
Class _ ■ 


o crcr 


Book . 




Gop\^i^iit]^° 




C-OPXRIGHT DEFOSm 



A MANUAL FOR 
HOME DEVOTIONS 



BY 

R. C. CAVE 



CINCINNATI 
THE STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY 



Copyright, 1919 
The Standard Publishing Company 



6^ 



CLA5 1504 8 

Wf^ 28 1919 



xJ 



*It is in the home that we must rear up 
those tender plants which are one day to 
be a hedge to keep the world of wicked- 
ness out of the garden of our civilization." 

—barker. 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

FOEEWOED „ 7 

I 

The Family 9 

II 

The Educatioi^ of Childeen 17 

III 
Keeping the Heaet 26 

IV 
Thoughts foe ^^the Day of Afflic- 
tion^ " 34 

V 
The Child's Cey ai^d the Fathee's 
Ai^swEE 58 

VI 
The Cheistian 's WA:t^TS 61 

VII 
The Family Woeship 65 

VIII 
The Golden Theead Ill 

5 



FOREWORD 

IF this Manual shall be productive of a 
•■' more religious atmosphere in any 
home; if it shall induce any to rear a 
household altar to the Lord, and offer 
thereon daily sacrifices of praise, thanks- 
giving, and prayer; if it shall rekindle on 
any hearthstone fires of devotion that 
have been allowed to smolder; if it shall 
incite any to greater diligence and more 
faithfulness in the discharge of parental 
obligations; if it shall bring into exist- 
ence in any family influences that make 
for better and happier life; if it shall 
comfort any who are burdened, and help 
them to bear their burdens more patiently 
and cheerfully; if it shall awaken godly 
aspirations in any, and impel them to 
become more Christly — the time spent in 
its preparation has not been wasted. 

I gratefully acknowledge my indebted- 
ness to Dr. Frederick D. Kershner for 
suggestions which contributed much to 
whatever of merit the little book may 
have. R. c. c. 

7 



THE FAMILY 

'T'HE family is one of the most inesti- 
'^ mable of the many blessings bestowed 
upon mankind by the wise and benevolent 
Creator. The Bible story tells ns that it 
was instituted in the garden of Eden 
when the Lord God, seeing that it was 
not good for the man to be alone, made 
and brought unto him a woman, as ^^an 
help meet for him,'' to banish his loneli- 
ness, satisfy the natural craving of his 
heart for companionship, and bring about 
the state of mutual love, sympathy, en- 
couragement, and help which is necessary 
to the attainment of the best and happi- 
est life. 

Thus instituted, the family has been 
through all the centuries a most im- 
portant factor in the life of mankind, 
making for the civilization of society and 
the betterment of human conditions. His- 
tory tells of many noble and heroic 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

workers for truth and progress whose 
characters and ideals were formed by 
the family life of their childhood. The 
influences brought to bear upon them, 
and the instruction imparted to them, in 
the family circle were prophecies of the 
good work done by many of the world's 
benefactors; just as the unfeigned faith 
of the grandmother and the mother of 
Timothy was a prophecy that he would be 
a man of fidelity — ^^ Follow after right- 
eousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, 
meekness, '^ and ^^ endure hardness as a 
good soldier of Jesus Christ.'' 

The family was graciously designed 
to provide for the gratification and hap- 
piness of parents, by satisfying their 
social instincts and exercising their gen- 
erous impulses in loving service; and to 
be a training-school for children, imbuing 
their minds with good principles and di- 
recting their thoughts, affections, and 
aims to the things that are true and 
honest and just and virtuous and lovely. 
And although it has often been, and in 
many cases still is, so perverted that its 
gracious design is defeated and it is 
made conducive to evil rather than good, 

10 



THE FAMILY 



it is still the state in which the storied 
happiness of Eden may be most nearly 
realized, and the characters of those who 
are growing up to play their parts in the 
world may be most effectually molded. 
Nowhere else on earth can one find 
such -analloyed and enduring happiness 
as is found in the family where love rules 
and, under its rule, ^'the sweet charities 
of home" abound. One who seeks satis- 
faction in the whirl of worldly pleasures 
soon finds that such 

''Pleasures are like poppies spread; 
You grasp the flower, its bloom is slied. ^ ' 

One who fancies that earthly riches 
can bring contentment, and successfully 
labors* to accumulate wealth, soon learns 
that there is heart-hunger which gold can 
not appease and soul-longing which all 
the wealth of the world can not satisfy. 
One who strives for earthly honors and 
power as means of securing happiness, 
even though he may climb to the pinnacle 
of fame and grasp a royal scepter, finds 
that ^ ^uneasy lies the head that wears a 
crown." All the pleasures, riches, and 
honors which the outside world can offer 

11 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

fail to satisfy the yearnings of the human 
heart. It is only in the divinely ordained 
and sacred society of the family that the 
highest good, purest joy, and most abid- 
ing peace attainable on earth can be 
found. It is there that ^'blessings are 
increased by mutual participation, and 
the sting is plucked from the keenest sor- 
row by the touch of mutual affection." 

"The world hath its delights, 
And its delusions, too; 
But home to calmer bliss invites, 
More tranquil and more true. 

"The pilgrim's step in vain 

Seeks Eden's sacred ground; 
But in home's holy joys again 
An Eden may be found. 

"A glance of heaven to see. 
To none on earth is given; 
And yet a happy family 
Is but an earlier heaven." 

The society of the family not only 
makes possible the attainment of the most 
pure and enduring earthly happiness, but 
it also supplies the relations and condi- 
tions requisite to the most efficient moral 
training. 

Both man and woman are ennobled by 
a loving union in which they share the 

12 



THE FAMILY 



duties, joys, and sorrows of life. The 
interests, aims, successes and failures, 
joys and sorrows which they have in com- 
mon tend to draw them closer together, 
quicken and broaden their sympathies, 
make them more considerate and kindlier, 
and in many ways ^^ consume the dross 
and refine the gold'' of their characters. 
As children are born unto them, new re- 
lations arise, imposing obligations in the 
faithful discharge of which all the virtues 
that enter into and constitute moral ex- 
cellence are exercised and strengthened. 
The home life is especially influential 
in forming the characters of children. 
What is seen and heard and felt by them 
in the home makes such lasting impres- 
sions upon their young and receptive 
minds that it can be said with truth: 
*^ Train up a child in the way he should 
go, and when he is old he will not depart 
from it." The mind of the child is a 
clean page on which the associations, ex- 
amples, and instructions of the home 
write tendencies and memories that later 
experiences can not obliterate, and that 
remain throughout life as character- 
molding influences. It is generally true 

13 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

that children become what the training 
of their home life makes them. 

Bnt in order that the society of the 
family may bring the purest earthly hap- 
piness and produce the truest manhood 
and womanhood, its life must be wisely 
guarded and governed. It must be sus- 
tained, encouraged, and brightened by a 
cheerful confidence in the loving care and 
guidance of God, and dominated, sancti- 
fied, and ennobled by religion. '^A house 
without a roof," says Dr. Bushnell, 
^Svould scarcely be a more indifferent 
home than a family unsheltered by God's 
friendship, and the sense of being always 
rested in his providential care and guid- 
ance." 

But the God to whom the family looks 
for shelter, care, and guidance should be 
the infinite Father revealed by Jesus, 
whose rain falls on the unjust as well as 
the just and whose love follows his chil- 
dren ' through evil as well as through 
good, rather than the stern, wrathful, 
and revengeful Deity enthroned by some, 
whose pitiless anger is kindled against 
the erring, and who, instead of alluring 
the heart to trustingly turn to him as a 

14 



THE FAMILY 



little child turns to a loving mother, fills 
it with dread, and impels it to hide from 
him behind some shelter, as ^^Adam and 
his wife hid themselves from the presence 
of the Lord God amongst the trees of the 
garden. ' ' 

The religion of the family should not 
be the harsh and gloomy asceticism 
which, vainly imagining that saintliness 
and divine fayor may be obtained by 
means of self-imposed hardships and 
needless self-denials, is the enemy of all 
earthly joys, but should give encourage- 
ment to harmless amusements and pure 
pleasures, and make life bright and cheer- 
ful. It should be the religion which is 
^^no sullen Stoicism and no sour Phari- 
saism, which does not consist in melan- 
choly passions and dejected looks or de- 
pressions of mind, but consists in free- 
dom, love, peace, life, and power." The 
family should be ruled by the religion 
which dispels gloom and makes the home 
merry — the religion which so harmon- 
izes happiness and duty that the one is 
found in doing the other — the religion 
which may be summed up in the saying: 
^^Love, and be happy;" for love and hap- 

2 15 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

piness belong together, and '4ove is the 
fulfilling of the law." The religion of 
the family should permit and promote 
every pleasure that may be enjoyed with- 
out violating the law of love. Confidently 
relying upon the guidance and providence 
of the Father who is wisely and merci- 
fully directing all things and *^ beyond 
whose love and care no blinded child can 
stray/' and governed by the divine love 
which is 'Hhe fulfilling of the law," the 
family will be free from peace-destroying 
anxieties, jarring discords, and petty con- 
tentions, and, with all its members har- 
moniously arid joyfully ^^ walking the 
round of duty" day by day, will fulfill its 
divinely appointed mission to be the pro- 
moter of happiness and the nursery of 
virtue. 



16 



II 

THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN 

'T'HAT the education received in child- 
-'■ hood exerts a lasting influence, and 
to a very large extent determines the 
character of manhood and womanhood, is 
universally conceded. ^^Just as the twig 
is bent, the tree's inclined,'' ^^The child 
is father to the man, ' ' and other like say- 
ings, are proverbial. But while parents 
generally recognize the importance and 
duty of educating their children, many 
seem to have a very imperfect conception 
of what education includes. They seem 
to think that their whole duty in the mat- 
ter consists in imparting to their children 
useful information and teaching them 
good behavior. And yet this is the least 
important part of education. ** Instruc- 
tion and breeding," it has been well said, 
^^are to education as parts to a whole: 
the instruction respects the communica- 
tion of knowledge, and breeding respects 

17 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

the manners or outward conduct ; but edu- 
cation comprehends not only both these, 
but the formation of the mind, the regula- 
tion of the heart, and the establishment 
of the principles. Good instruction makes 
one wiser ; good breeding makes one more 
polished and agreeable; good education 
makes one really good.'' One may have 
all the knowledge that can be imparted to 
him and all the breeding that is needed to 
fit him for the most cultivated and refined 
society, and yet lack the enlarged and 
rightly directed mind and the wisely reg- 
ulated heart necessary to safeguard him 
amid the temptations of life, prepare him 
to fulfill his mission of duty, and enable 
him to gain true honor and success. To 
safeguard their children and prepare 
them to obtain the greatest good, parents 
must add to instruction and breeding wise 
and assiduous moral training. 

Parents should realize the fact that 
every child intrusted to their care is an 
immortal being — a deathless soul — the 
shaping of whose life for good or ill, for 
honor or shame, for blessedness or 
wretchedness, is largely in their hands; 
that they are under the most solemn obli- 

18 



THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN 

gation to promote the little one 's spiritual 
growth; and that they must account for 
the manner in which they fulfill the obli- 
gation. It behooves them to diligently 
and prayerfully '^ watch and labor to- 
wards the development of the angeP' 
within the. child. 

And how can this angel be developed? 
How can the child be rightly educated and 
fitted for high things and heavenly fel- 
lowship? It has been said that ^^all false 
methods of education are founded upon 
wrong ideas of the soul, the thing to be 
educated.'' Sometimes the soul is repre- 
sented as an empty vessel needing to be 
filled; sometimes, as fallow ground need- 
ing to be cultivated; sometimes as a 
rough stone needing to be polished. 
While there may be a sense in which 
each of these figures is admissible, no 
one of them conveys a true conception of 
the soul's nature. The material figure 
which most nearly meets the demands of 
the case is that suggested by the Bible 
writer who speaks of it as planted, and 
thus indirectly likens it to a seed, or 
rootlet, which contains potentially within 
itself all that it will ever be, and requires 

19 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

proper soil and surroundings to make it 
germinate and foster its growth. The 
soul is not to be filled, as an empty ves- 
sel, by pouring something into it; but, 
like the seed or rootlet, it is to be filled 
with nourishment that it draws by nat- 
ural processes from its surroundings. It 
is to be cultivated as the plant is culti- 
vated. It is to be shaped and polished 
as naturally as a flower is shaped and 
made beautiful. Its life must be devel- 
oped by the natural unfolding of its own 
potentialities. As the oak is in the acorn 
and is developed therefrom through the 
influences of soil and climate, so all that 
the soul is to become is wrapped up in 
it, and will be developed from it by natu- 
ral growth through the influences of the 
moral soil in which it is planted and the 
moral climate in which it is kept. 

Training, then, should be wisely 
adapted to the soul's natural endow- 
ments and potentialities. It can confer 
no gift which nature has not bestowed. 
^^ Education,'' as some one has said, '^can 
not create in men what God did not create 
in them when he started them in life." 
Education can draw out, improve, and 

20 



THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN 

make more effective the powers that as 
yet are latent in the child's soul, but it 
can give the child no new power. If one 
is not born with a talent for music, or 
art, or eloquence, or any other particular 
line of work, no training can give it to 
him. Hence, parents should not . try to 
change the natures of their children and 
make them what they are not naturally 
fitted to be; but should study their natu- 
ral tendencies and aptitudes, and sedu- 
lously, patiently, and lovingly endeavor to 
develop, expand, and strengthen the pow- 
ers that are dormant within them. And 
the wise parent, discerning both the good 
and the bad in the child, will not try to 
eliminate the bad with denunciations and 
seourgings, but will rather encourage and 
nourish the good so that it will grow and 
drive out the bad as light dispels dark- 
ness. 

All means used to further the moral 
and spiritual growth of the child — all dis- 
cipline — should be characterized by kind- 
ness, gentleness, tenderness, and love. 
There should be no severe and seemingly 
cruel infliction of punishment. The old 
saying, ^^ Spare the rod and spoil the 

21 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

child,'' may be true enough where the 
rod is needed and lovingly and sorrow- 
fully administered; but an indiscriminate 
and angry use of the rod tends to the 
moral ruin of the child. One may well 
marvel that so many children remain un- 
spoiled despite the blows laid on them by 
angry and vindictive parents. 

If it be said, as men often say, that 
severe punishment is sometimes neces- 
sary to break the child's will, it may be 
answered, in the words of a great and 
good man: ^^The will needs regulation, 
not destroying. I should as soon think 
of breaking the legs of a horse in train- 
ing him, as a child's will. I would dis- 
cipline and develop it into harmonious 
proportions. I never yet heard of a will 
in itself too strong, more than of an 
arm too mighty, or a mind too compre- 
hensive in its grasp, too powerful in its 
hold. The instruction of children should 
be such as to animate, inspire, and train, 
but not to hew, cut, and carve; for I 
would always treat a child as a live tree, 
which was to be helped to grow, never 
as dry, dead timber, to be carved into 
this or that shape, and to have certain 

22 



THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN 

moldings grooved upon it. A live tree^ 
and not dead timber, is every little 
child. '^ 

Probably the most potent influence af- 
fecting the moral education and spiritual 
growth of the child is the example of the 
parents. Day after day, throughout the 
period of childhood, the young mind is 
impressed far more by the deportment 
than by the precepts of the father and 
mother. From what they do, rather than 
from what they say, the child's notions 
of God, of religion, of right and wrong, 
and of duty are derived. If they mani- 
fest God in their daily lives as infinitely 
loving and lovable, the heart of the child 
will naturally be drawn out to him in 
answering love; but if their lives go to 
show that the God whom they worship is 
hard, unloving, and unlovable, the young 
heart will just as naturally shrink from 
him. . If they do justly, show mercy, and 
walk humbly with God, they thereby in- 
cite the child to live the life that the Lord 
requireth; but if they are unjust, unmer- 
ciful, and ungodly, they thereby place be- 
fore the child powerful incentives to un- 
godliness. If they show by their conduct 

23 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

that their affections are set on things 
above, and that they are seeking first the 
kingdom of God and his righteousness, 
their example will strongly influence the 
child to regard spiritual riches as the 
highest and best; but if their lives show 
that they are most eager in the pursuit of 
worldly wealth and honor and pleasure, 
their example will go far towards making 
their child a worldling. So, in all ways, 
the example of the parents powerfully 
influences the child for good or ill. 
Surely, then, parents ought to be most 
exemplary in their lives. They should 
tread warily, for they are making a path 
for the young and inexperienced soul who 
is looking to them for guidance. They 
should walk with circumspection in the 
way of wisdom, remembering that any 
departure from that way by them may 
wreck the child that follows in their wake. 
While attracting their children to the 
good by daily exemplifying it, parents 
should, as far as possible, give them wise 
instruction, innocent amusement, congenial 
society, pure associations, benevolent ac- 
tivity, and whatever tends to foster things 
Jioly and divine — whatever is to the soul 

24 



THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN 

what the fertile soil and gentle rain and 
the quickening sunshine are to the flower. 
When this is done, the parental heart need 
feel no anxiety about the result. The 
spiritual growth of the child will follow 
naturally. As Professor Drummond says : 
^^The soul grows as the lily grows, with- 
out trying, without fretting, without ever 
thinking about it." Living amidst pure 
and holy surroundings and favorably 
conditioned, the child will become ^4ike a 
tree planted by the rivers of water, that 
bringeth forth his fruit in his season." 



25 



Ill 

KEEPING THE HEART 

' I 'HE wise writer of the Proverbs said: 
^ ^'Keep thy heart with all diligence,'^ 
or, as the marginal reading hath it, 
^^ above all keeping." He taught that 
man's chief concern in life — the object of 
his most earnest and most constant en- 
deavor — should be to keep his heart. 

The keeping of the heart is declared 
to be thus important because ^^out of it 
are the issues of life." It is to the life 
as the fountain to the stream, sending it 
forth and giving it quality. It is the 
home of the feelings that impel man to 
action, and it determines the moral char- 
acter of the actions to which it impels, in 
so far as they are related to him who 
performs them. 

If the heart be evil, the life flowing 
out from it is evil also. That life may be 
very beautiful in appearance; it may 
clothe itself with the forms of religion 

26 



KEEPING THE HEART 



and adorn itself with good works; but all 
its shoAV of goodness is a deception. It 
may ^^ speak with the tongues of men and 
of angels," but it is only ^^ sounding brass 
or a tinkling cymbal." It may be fair on 
the outside, but within it is full of un- 
cleanness. The desires and affections 
which prompt its actions are impure, and 
this impurity clings to and poisons its 
noblest deeds. As the almsgiving and 
fasting and praying of the hypocrites, 
done to be seen and honored of men, were 
condemned by Jesus; so all the works 
that spring from a false and corrupt 
heart, however right they may be in them- 
selves, lack the sincerity which is an es- 
sential element of virtue, and are there- 
fore evil as they stand related to their 
doer. 

And as the corrupt heart imparts its 
taint to the life that flows out from it, 
however beautiful that life may be in ap- 
pearance; so the pure heart purifies the 
life that issues from it, however faulty 
that life may be in form. The life that 
issues from the heart that is clean and 
true may be lamentably imperfect ; it may 
be marred by ignorance, false conceptions 

27 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

of duty, and many weaknesses; but, 
though weak in performance, it is faith- 
ful in endeavor, it is true in motive and 
pure in purpose, and it receives the divine 
approval notwithstanding its outward 
shortcomings. The motive in which it 
takes its rise — the spirit from which it 
proceeds — excuses its failures, sanctifies 
its imperfections, and wins for it the ap- 
proval of the righteous Judge. In the 
words of Carlyle: ^^It is not thy works, 
which are all mortal, infinitely little, and 
the greatest no greater than the least, 
but only the spirit thou workest in, that 
can have worth or continuance." 

Moreover, the state of the heart de- 
termines the happiness, as well as the 
moral character, of the life. Men are 
ever deluding themselves with the idea 
that happiness may be found in a change 
of outward conditions, and wasting their 
lives in vainly seeking it among the things 
of the world. Yet all human experience 
bears witness that such outward things 
can not yield it. As color is not a prop- 
erty inherent in bodies, but in the light 
that they reflect through the eye upon the 
brain; so happiness does not lie in our 

28 



KEEPING THE HEART 



surroundings, but in the impression which 
the surroundings make upon our hearts. 
And the character of the impression made 
by outward things upon the heart is 
largely determined by the state of the 
heart itself. As Coleridge says: 

"O Lady, we receive but what we give, 
And in our life alone does nature live: 
Ours is her wedding garment, ours her shroud." 

Ourselves impart to our surroundings 
the gay or somber hues in which they ap- 
pear to us. The state of our own souls 
clothes life with the light of bridal joy, 
or shrouds it in the gloom of mourning. 
The heart that is beating out of tune 
hears no music in the divinest hymn, 
while the heart that is beating in tune 
hears the melodies of the everlasting 
chime rising in tones clear and sweet 
above all the sounds of human care and 
strife and toil and sorrow. 

"The heart gives life its beauty, 
Its glory and its power — 
'Tis sunlight to its rippling stream. 
And soft dew to its flower.'^ 

It is, then, of the utmost importance 
that the heart should be so kept that the 
streams of life issuing from it will be 

29 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

pure, beautiful, and joyful. It should be 
so purged of impure and selfish desires 
and affections that the holy One may find 
therein no rival to contest his right to 
any part thereof. Its doors should be 
kept shut and barred against all ungodly 
pleasures and unrighteous gains and un- 
holy ambitions and unhallowed pursuits, 
It should be kept as a fountain on which 
a seal is set to keep its waters pure and 
clear for Him who made it; or as a holy 
temple dedicated to him, and swept and 
garnished for his indwelling. Only to the 
extent that it is thus consecrated to him 
will the streams of life issuing from it 
be peaceful, satisfying, and joyful. 

But how can the heart be kept? It 
can not be controlled as the movements 
of the body are. The desires and affec- 
tions do not yield obedience to the will, 
like the muscles that guide the hand or 
the foot. Sorrow and joy do not go and 
come, hate does not give place to love, 
despondency does not change into cheer- 
fulness, the emotions do not assume new 
character, just as one may command. The 
heart can not be controlled by the exer- 
cise of will-power brought to bear directly 

30 



KEEPING THE HEART 



upon it, but must be wrought upon indi- 
rectly through the use of means suited to 
effect the end desired. It must be changed 
from one state into another by suitable 
moral influences brought to bear upon it. 
As the void and formless earth was kept 
steadily under the movings of God's 
Spirit and slowly emerged from chaos 
into a shapely world, the evil heart must 
be kept constantly under purifying and 
ennobling influences that it may be puri- 
fied, ennobled, and made holy. 

Among such influences are good 
thoughts. The human heart has been 
.likened to an ever-grinding mill, thoughts 
being the grain which it grinds. When 
the grain is good, the mill keeps clean and 
produces good flour; but when the grain 
is bad, the mill itself is made foul and 
the flour is unfit for use. The heart, then, 
must be kept free from the influence of 
harmful thoughts. And harmful thoughts 
include not only such as are impure and 
corrupting in themselves, but such as are 
trifling, useless, and vain, and, though not 
positively vicious in themselves, shut out 
the beams of truth from the soul and keep 
it barren of virtue. The heart that is 

3 31 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

''Like a broad highway or a populous street, 
Where vain and idle thoughts have leave to meet, 
Pause, or pass on, as in an open mart,'' 

may not become grossly corrupt, but it 
will never rise to strong and manly vir- 
tue. As the body can not be made strong 
and healthy without nutritious food, the 
heart can not be rooted and grounded in 
righteousness while it is fed on thoughts 
that have in them no spiritual nutriment. 
It must be nourished with true and good 
thoughts that it may become true and 
good. If one will think on ^^ whatsoever 
things are true, whatsoever things are 
honest, whatsoever things are just, what- 
soever things are pure, whatsoever things 
are lovely, whatsoever things are virtuous, 
whatsoever things are praiseworthy," his 
heart, taking character from companion- 
ship mth such high and holy things, will 
become true and honest and just and 
pure. 

To be rightly kept, the heart must be 
exercised in benevolent effort. Just as 
exercise strengthens the muscles of the 
body, the exercise of good feelings in 
good works develops and strengthens 
those feelings. Those who freely obey 

32 



KEEPING THE HEART 



the promptings of their better nature, 
and give expression to their good feelings 
in good works, rise higher in the scale of 
benevolence, have the law of love written 
more deeply in their hearts, and find their 
souls more and more thoroughly imbued 
with the spirit of Christ; while, on the 
other hand, those who refuse to act in 
obedience to the promptings of their bet- 
ter nature become harder and yet harder 
in heart, having their finer sympathies 
blunted, their diviner sensibilities dulled, 
and all their nobler impulses and aspira- 
tions dwarfed and deadened. He who 
would keep his heart growing Godward 
and heavenward must obey its Godward 
tendencies and heavenly impulses. He 
must pour out its gratitude in thanksgiv- 
ing, that it may become more grateful; 
pour out its love in devotion and service, 
that it may grow more loving; and let 
its every divine feeling find expression in 
corresponding effort, that it may become 
more divine. 

'Tor the heart grows rich in giving. Self -entwined. 
Its strength sinks low; 
It can only live in loving, and by serving 
Love will grow. ^' 

33 



IV 

THOUGHTS FOR "THE DAY OF 
AFFLICTION" 



^^ PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING.'^ 

j\ /FOST of US have earnestly desired to 
^^^ be released from the struggles and 
sufferings incident to life. We would like 
to have its sunshine withput its shadow, 
its joys without its sorrows. But in 
this we are like one who refuses bread 
and foolishly cries for a stone. To have 
our vain desire granted would be to se- 
cure a transient pleasure at the cost of 
eternal gain. It would be to enjoy a few 
fleeting hours of ease at the cost of 
strength of character, nobility of soul, 
and all that goes to make up the highest 
and most heroic manhood. 

Some one has illustrated this by giv- 
ing the result of his attempt to aid an 
emperor-moth in its effort to free itself 

34 



THE DAY OF AFFLICTION 

from its flask-shaped cocoon. He sayss 
^^ During the whole forenoon I watched it 
patiently striving and struggling to g'^t 
out. It never seemed able to get beyond 
a certain point, and at last my patience 
was exhausted. I resolved to give it a 
helping hand. With the point of my 
scissors, I clipped the confining threads 
to make the exit a little easier; and, im- 
mediately, out crawled the moth, dragging 
a huge, swollen body and little, shriveled 
wings. ... I watched to see these as- 
sume their due proportions, and to see 
the creature appear in all its perfect 
beauty; but I looked in vain. My false 
tenderness had proved its ruin. It never 
was anything but a stunted abortion, 
crawling painfully through that brief life 
which it should have spent flying through 
the air on rainbow wings." 

And, just as the life of that moth was 
ruined by delivering it from the struggles 
and sufferings which nature — the law of 
God — imposed upon it, our lives would 
be marred and our ruin would be wrought 
if we should be freed from the trials and 
sorrows through which, in the natural 
course of things, we are called to pass. 

35 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

As we come to appremate the truth 
that the highest life must be won through 
our own struggles — as we come to see 
that no one can be raised to a state of 
blessedness by the interposition of power 
from without, but that every one must 
^^eat bread in the sweat of his own face'' 
— ^we come to understand what has been 
called ^^the hardness" of God's love. The 
love of our Father is not a soft, weak sen- 
timent which shrinks from subjecting us to 
needed suffering; it is not a short-sighted, 
foolish feeling which considers the pres- 
ent only, and aims to bestow nothing 
higher than temporary ease and enjoy- 
ment; but its purpose is to educate, de- 
velop, and perfect the divine spirit within 
us and make us, in the fullest possible 
measure, ^^ partakers of the divine 
nature." The supreme end for which we 
are fashioned, and to which our Father 
is patiently leading us, is the perfection 
of our characters — ^the bringing of our 
spirits into perfect agreement with the 
Eternal, so that we will desire and love 
and purpose and do that only which is 
good. To accomplish this, the Father 
leads us through trials and struggles and 

36 



THE DAY OF AFFLICTION 

sufferings, even though they are grievous 
and hard to bear. 

In no other way can this end be gained. 
Were it possible for a higher power to 
interpose and deliver us from these trav- 
ails of birth into higher life, the inter- 
position would be as unwise as clipping 
the confining threads to make easier the 
exit of the moth from its cocoon. While 
affording us present relief, it would rob 
us of the ^^ glorious liberty of the sons of 
God," and doom us to a life weak, 
stunted, and deformed. As Jesus, our 
Elder Brother, was made ^^ perfect through 
suffering," we must be brought into the 
perfect life through tribulations. In the 
words of Paul : ^ ' Our light affliction, which 
is but for a moment, worketh out for us 
a far more exceeding and eternal weight 
of glory." It works out for us the glory 
of a character which will outlive all the 
pleasures and pomps and splendors of 
this present world, and which, when the 
angel of destruction shall have crumbled 
all earthly crowns into dust, will still 
stand, resting on the true ^^Rock of 
Ages," reaching up into the highest 
heavens, and joyously basking in the 

37 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

everlasting light of God's presence. It is 
not strange that Paul, contemplating the 
glory which the Father was working out 
for him through the trials and tribula- 
tions to which he was subjected, said: 
^^I take pleasure in infirmities, in re- 
proaches, in necessities, in persecutions, 
in distresses." 

11. 

THE CUP GIVEN BY THE FATHER. 

When the cup which, in the darkness 
and loneliness of Gethsemane, he had 
prayed might pass from him, was placed 
before him, Jesus looked upon it as a 
gift of God, and said : ^ ' The cup which my 
Father hath given me, shall I not drink 
of it?" Since it had come to him not- 
withstanding his earnest prayer that, if 
possible, it might pass, he regarded it as 
sent by the Father who, being infinite in 
wisdom and love, can give his children 
nothing that is not good. Thus regard- 
ing it, he accepted it willingly and drank 
of it without a murmur. 

"His lips sobbed througli tlie water rank, 
His heart paused in him while he drank, 
His brain beat heart-like — rose and sank." 
38 



THE DAY OF AFFLICTION 

And, thus drinking, he found the cup 
to be an exceedingly precious gift, bring- 
ing to him glory and honor and highest 
blessing. ^^He became obedient unto 
death, even the death of the cross. "Where- 
fore God also hath highly exalted him, 
and given him a name which is above 
every name.'' 

And is there not something in this to 
comfort and encourage us when the shad- 
ows fall darkly over our lives? To every 
man's lips is placed, sooner or later, the 
cup of suffering. In the lives of most of 
us there are days of cloud and rain and 
storm and tempest, when ^^the desire of 
our eyes is taken from us" and we are 
^^ brought into so great trouble and misery 
that we go mourning all the day long." 
We pray that the cup of sorrow may pass 
from us; but, instead of passing, it is 
pressed more closely to our quivering 
lips. Shall we say that our prayer is 
unanswered? Shall we think that God has 
forgotten us; or that he is unmerciful, 
and careless of our pain and anguish? 
Let us learn from the story of Jesus tha't 
it is not so. Let us learn from the great- 
hearted and patient sufferer, who prayed 

39 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

in Gethsemane and was answered with 
Calvary, that, since the cnp does not pass 
from US in answer to onr prayer, it is a 
gift from the hand of our Father, who 
loves us more than any earthly father 
ever loved, and who must become false 
to himself and destroy the foundation on 
which his throne is built, ere he can hear 
without pity the cry of one of his chil- 
dren in distress, or give to that child a 
gift that is not good. 

And, believing this, instead of pressing 
from us the cup which the Father's hand 
holds out to us, let us, like the Master, 
drink of it without murmuring, however 
bitter the draught may be. We shall not 
fail to find this ^^ bitter drink a wholesome 
drink." In the dregs of the cup, we shall 
find ''a pearl of great price" which we 
can find nowhere else — a divine glory and 
a heavenly peace which nothing but this 
drink can give. ^^No cross, no crown,'' 
is neither a fiction of priests nor an arbi- 
trary decree of Heaven: it is a truth 
founded in the nature of things.. Crosses 
are as pruning to a vine, cutting off 
hindering growths and making for richer, 
more abundant and more fruitful life. The 

40 



THE DAY OF AFFLICTION 

'^ eyes 

That look for visions and surprise 
From, influent angels, must shut down 
Their lids first upon sun and moon, 
The head asleep upon a stone." 

Hence, the bitter cup is given to us by 
our Father. '^Whom he loveth he chas- 
teneth." As, after the poet drank of the 
dark pool ^' where weights of shadow 
were downcast,'' ^*a slow kiss crowned 
his forehead" and ^^his eyelids flew back 
for the bliss ... ;" so, after we have 
drained the cup given by the Father, we 
shall feel the lingering kiss of divine love 
on our brows, our souls will be filled with 
a heavenly harmony, and our whole being 
will be thrilled with the joy of a new and 
higher life. When, like the divine Suf- 
ferer, we wish for nothing better than the 
Father gives, and trustingly drink of the 
cup of bereavement, or sickness, or pain, 
or poverty, or sorrow of any kind which 
the Father's hand holds out to us, we 
also shall be exalted. Our Father, if we 
will lo'ok to him, will strengthen us to 
bear all the pam and bitterness of it; 
and after a little while — when our spirits 
have been chastened until they reflect his 
image as the mirror reflects the face of 

41 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

one who looks into it, and our natures 
have been purified, ennobled, and fitted 
for beatific visions and celestial harmonies 
and heavenly raptures — he will take us 
up out of all our tribulations into his 
glorious presence, and ^^wipe away all 
tears from our eyes.'' 

Then, as Jesus, ^^for the joy that was 
set before him, endured the cross, despis^ 
ing the shame, and is set down at the 
right hand of the throne of God," let us 
endure unto the end, bearing with patience 
the burdens that may.be laid upon us, 
so that we also may be lifted up and per- 
mitted to ^^sit with him in his throne.'^ 

"Sweet cup of sorrow, 
I would drink thee! 
Cup of unearthly wine, 
As thy lip touches mine, 
I would bethink me: 
'Christ, my joy and hope, 
Once drained a bitterer cup; 
Let me then drink thee up! ' 

** Though thou art bitter, 
Love is in thee. 
Pledge of the brighter wine, 
Let my pale lips touch thine; 
For within thee 
Are the blessings seven; 
O cup, O wine of heaven, 
At the high banquet given!'' 

42 



THE DAY OF AFFLICTION 

III. 

^^THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD." 

*^The Lord is my shepherd; I shall 
not want. ' ' So sang David in the twenty- 
third Psalm, which has probably banished 
more doubts, quieted more fears, and 
^^ charmed more griefs to rest" than any 
other song in the whole range of litera- 
ture. It has comforted sorrowing hearts 
through all the generations since it was 
written, and will continue to comfort 
them until the last of God's pilgrim sons 
and daughters is safe in the home where 
sorrows can not come. 

It has been aptly called ^^the night- 
ingale of the Psalms"; for, like the bird 
that cheers the night with song, it sings 
its strain of joyous confidence in the 
dark hours of suffering. When we are 
staggering beneath the burdens and sorely 
distressed by the trials of life, it points 
us to the true source of consolation and 
encouragement. It calls us to the child- 
like trust in our heavenly Father which 
will free us from all wearing anxieties 
and peace-destroying fears. It teaches us 
that the Lord, our Shepherd, is caring for 

43 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

us, so that we shall not want. But, alas! 
we are slow to learn the lesson of trust* 
We often find it difficult to realize that 
God is thus caring for us. 

OUR SEEMING INSIGNIFICANCE 

May hinder the realization of it. When 
we contemplate the universe, with its un- 
numbered worlds sweeping through space, 
and its marvelous creations, both animate 
and inanimate, we feel that we are ^^but 
atoms 'midst immensity," and we may 
find it difficult to believe that he who 
fashioned and rules this immensity con- 
cerns himself in the affairs of such insig- 
nificant atoms. We recognize the fact 
that God makes provision for his crea- 
tures in a general way, but we find it hard 
to believe that he takes the oversight of 
each member of his great family, and 
adapts his providence to each one's 
peculiar needs. We are willing to' admit 
that he takes charge of the destinies of 
nations, but we do not so readily see that 
he takes charge of the lives of individuals, 
notes their downsitting and uprising, and 
leads them in all their ways. We recog- 
nize his guiding hand in great things, but 

44 



THE DAY OF AFFLICTION 

do not so easily recognize it in small 
things. 

But lie is the Lord and Shepherd of 
the small and great alike. He notes the 
fall of the sparrow as well as the flight 
of the eagle. He gives the lily a garment 
of beauty as truly as he gives the sun a 
robe of fire. He is the God of individuals 
as well as nations. He was the God of 
Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob just 
as surely as he was the God of the Israel- 
ites. He led the boy Joseph into Egypt 
just as certainly as he led the children of 
Israel out of Egypt. He fed Elijah in 
his hiding-place by Cherith no less surely 
than he fed the host in the wilderness of 
Sin. We fail to rightly appreciate God's 
providence when we think of him as pro- 
viding for his children in a general way 
only. If we would regard his providing 
care truly, and have our souls rest in hini 
with a peace that passeth thought, we 
must learn to think of him as not only 
giving sunshine and the rain and the fer- 
tile soil and the seedtime and the harvest- 
home to all the world, but as also watch- 
ing over the poor widow's barrel of meal, 
and suffering not her cruse of oil to faiL 

45 



A iMANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

It is thus that he is represented in the 
song of David. It says: ^^The Lord is 
my shepherd. ' ' He is caring for my 
wants, and making provision for my in- 
dividual needs. 

The good shepherd's care for each one 
of his flock is beautifully and touchingly 
shown in Christ's parable of the lost 
sheep. The ninety and nine are safe ; but 
the one is missing — has wandered away 
from the flock and is lost in the desert. 
And the shepherd goes out into the dark- 
ness, searching for the missing one. Nor 
does he abandon the search until the lost 
one is found. ^^And when he hath found 
it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing," 
and bringeth it home, and calleth his 
neighbors to rejoice with him. He goes 
after the one that has got into trouble, 
and tenderly and joyfully brings it to 
safety and peace. To each one of his 
flock the divine Shepherd saith: ^^I will 
never leave thee, nor forsake thee." 
Priends may betray you, and loved ones 
may prove false; but God will be with 
you, to guide and defend you, through all 
your earthly pilgrimage. And when your 
task on earth is done, and the chill waters 

46 



THE DAY OF AFFLICTION 

of the river of death are laving your 
feet, yon may still joyonsly sing: 

''E'en death's cold wave I will not flee; 
For God through Jordan leadeth me. '^ 

Perhaps we can not believe that God 
takes snch an interest in ns, and thns 
cares for ns individually, because of 

A SENSE OF UKWORTHINESS. 

We find ourselves so imperfect, S'O 
weak, and so sinful that we may think 
the all-righteous Father can not love and 
specially care for us. This is a natural 
and, doubtless,, a common feeling. But, 
in feeling thus, we give prominence to 
our worse self and fail to appreciate our 
better self — fail to appreciate the fact 
that, notwithstanding all our sinfulness, 
there is deep down in our hearts a yearn- 
ing for better things, a longing for a 
purer life, a hungering and thirsting after 
righteousness; and that, like Paul, we do 
what we wish not to do and leave undone 
what we wish to do. But the Father, 
knowing us altogether, understanding us 
better than we understand ourselves, sees 
and appreciates this yearning for purity 
— this germ of goodness — ^within us, and 
4 47 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

loves us and tenderly cares for ns because 
of it. 

Probably you have seen a gardener, in 
the early springtime, go to a dry, knotty, 
and seemingly lifeless vine, and carefully 
prune it, and tie up its branches, and dig 
around it, and fertilize the soil about its 
roots; and you know that he thus tended 
it, not because of what it then appeared 
to be, but because he knew there was in it 
a hidden life which, under the genial in- 
fluences of the advancing season, would 
develop into luxuriant foliage and rich 
clusters of ripe fruit. And so the Father 
comes to us, weak and sinful as we are, 
and cares tenderly for us, not because he 
loves our weakness and sinfulness, but 
because he sees the yearning after holi- 
ness within us, which, by and by, under 
the blessed influences of his gospel and 
his providence, will be developed into the 
^^ beauty of the Lord our God." He sees 
in us the dim outlines of a picture which 
after awhile, in a brighter world, if not 
in this, will become a miniature of him- 
self; and he loves, not the blurs of the 
outline, but the ever-brightening picture. 
Let us not, then, permit thoughts of our 

48 



THE DAY OF AFFLICTION 

unworthiness to come between us and a 
full realization of the fact that the Lord 
is our Shepherd, and will unfailingly care 
for us. 

But perhaps we may doubt this com- 
forting and peace-giving truth because 

OUR DESIRES ARE NOT GRAIsTTED. 

Because we do not get what we wish 
and pray for, and are not feeding in what 
seem to us green pastures and being led 
beside what we take to be still waters, we 
may suppose that the Shepherd is taking 
no interest in us and making no provision 
for us. We think, perhaps, that, if the 
Lord were caring for us, we would not 
have so much toil and trouble and sor- 
row — our lives would not be so full of 
bitterness and so barren of pleasure. But, 
in thus reasoning, we forget that the 
Shepherd knows better than the sheep 
what they really need and what pasturage 
is good for them. The sheep are short- 
sighted, and can not look beyond the 
present time and place; the Shepherd is 
far-seeing, and may perceive dangers of 
which they can not know. He sees, it 
may be, that what we think we need 

49 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

is just the thing that we do not need. 
In the pastures that look to us so rich 
and green and inviting, he may see poison- 
ous weeds that would destroy us. He may 
know that the waters which seem to us so 
still and peaceful, under the pleasant 
shade of the trees, are bordered by quick- 
sands that would swallow us up, if we 
were to go on them. And because he sees 
that what we desire would be hurtful to 
us, he withholds it from us. 

^^I have seen a shepherd," says a 
noted Scotch minister, ^ ^ on a bitter, snowy 
day, gathering all his sheep carefully to 
the windy side of the hill. The silly crea- 
tures, left to themselves, would all take 
the other side; they would go straight to 
the most dangerous places, to the sheltered 
spots where the deep snow-wreaths form 
silently, in which they would soon find at 
once a refuge and a grave. On such a day 
the life of some of the sheep depends on 
facing the blast. The shepherd would not 
let the youngest, he would not let the 
weakest one of the flock, lie down in the 
shelter. For the very love he bears it, 
^he leads it out,' or drives, or carries it 
—even in such an hour as that, facing the 

50 



THE DAY OF AFFLICTION 

bitter wind and the blinding snow. ' ' Like 
the silly sheep, we do not see what is best 
for us ; and we are often restless and fret- 
ful because the wise and good Shepherd 
keeps us on ^^the windy side of the hill/' 
Surely it is better to trust in him and let 
him choose for us, and walk resignedly in 
the path along which he leads us, whether 
it be through green meadows and beside 
softly floAving waters, or over jagged 
rocks and up the rugged mountain-side. 

IV. 

SELECTIONS. 

^^YouK Sorrow Shall Be Turned into 
Joy." — ^When the storm is upon us, it 
seems as if there never could be any sun- 
shine more ; but our hopelessness does not 
keep back the sun when his hour to shine 
is come. . . . When one is miserable, mis- 
ery seems the law of being. There is 
some thought which it seems nothing can 
ever set right; but all at once it is gone, 
broken up and gone, like a hail-cloud. 
• . . Do you know why things so often 
come right? I would say always come 
right, only that is matter of faith, not 

51 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

sight. ... It is because things are all 
alive, and the life at the heart of them, 
that which keeps them going, is the great, 
beautiful God. So the sun forever re- 
turns after the clouds. A doubting man, 
like him who wrote the Book of Ecclesias- 
tes, puts the evil last, and says the clouds 
return after the rain; but the Christian 
knows that 

'^One has mastery 
Who makes the joy the last in every song," 

It is neither time nor eternity, nor 
human consolation, nor everlasting sleep, 
nor the satisfied judgment that is the cure 
for all things; it is the heart, the will, 
the being of the Father; while that re- 
mains, can the irremediable, the irredeem- 
able exist? If there arose, in the heart 
of one of his creatures, a grief not other- 
wise to be destroyed, he would take it into 
himself, and there consume it in his own 
creative fire — himself bearing the grief, 
carrying the pain of the sorrow. For did 
not Christ die ? and would he not die again 
rather than leave room for one irremedi- 
able loss in the realms of his love — that 
is, of his creation? . . . Instead of our 
being at the end of things, where they are 

52 



THE DAY OF AFFLICTION 

all growing old and drawing near to their 
final rest, we are but in the beginnings 
and on the threshold of creation ; our 
Father is as young as ever he was ; a God 
who, while he is the Ancient of Days, can 
yet never grow old; and he who has 
filled the dull, unbelieving nations with 
food and gladness, has a splendor of de- 
light ever preparing for the souls which 
as constantly as he is creating as con- 
stantly is he educating and enlarging to 
the receiving and holding of his mighty, 
ever-growing joy. — George Macdonald. 

''Come, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish, 
Come, at the shrine of God fervently kneel; 
Here bring yonr wounded hearts, here tell your 
anguish — 
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can not heal. 

— Thomas Moore. 

The Exceeding Eewaed of Affliction. 
— As much as moments are exceeded by 
eternity ; and the sighing of a man by the 
joy of an angel; and a salutary frown by 
the light of God's countenance; and a 
few groans by the infinite and eternal 
hallelujahs — so much are the sorrows of 
the saints to be undervalued, in respect 
of what is deposited for them in the 

53 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

treasures of eternity. Their sorrows can 
die, but so can not their joys. . . . Every 
chain is a ray of light, and every prison 
is a palace, and every loss is the purchase 
of a kingdom, and every affront in the 
cause of God is an eternal honor, and 
every day of sorrow is a thousand years 
of comfort, multiplied with a never-ceas- 
ing numeration: days without night; joys 
without sorrow; sanctity without sin; 
charity without stain; possession without 
fear; society without envying; communi- 
cation of joys without lessening ; and they 
shall dwell in a blessed country, where an 
enemy never entered, and from whence a 
friend never went away. — Bishop Taylor. 

Be resigned, 
Thou child of sorrow, to His sovereign will; 

Drink, as He bids, the bitter cup, and bear 
Thy cross in patience! From the holy hill 

A gleam shall cheer thee, till, safe-harbored there, 
Thou feel how faintly earth's severest ill. 

May with the weight of heavenly joys compare. 

— Bichard Mant, 

Benefit of Suffeeing. — I know enough 
of gardening to understand that, if I 
would have a tree grow upon its south 
side, I must cut off the branches there. 
Then all its forces go to repairing the in- 

54 



THE DAY OF AFFLICTION 

jury; and twenty buds shoot out where, 
otherwise, there would have been but one. 
When we reach the garden above, we shall 
find that out of those very wounds over 
which we sighed and groaned on earth, 
have sprung verdant branches, bearing 
precious fruit, a thousand-fold. — Beecher. 

The hour of anguish passes by; 

But in the spirit there remains 
The outgrowth of its agony, 

The compensation of its pains — 
In meekness, which suspects no wrong; 

In patience, which endures control; 
In faith, which makes the spirit strong; ' 

In peace and purity of soul. 

— Thomas C, Upham, 

The Discipline of Soerow. — Sorrow 
is the noblest of all discipline. Our nature 
shrinks from it; but it is not the less for 
the greatness of our nature. It is a 
scourge; but there is healing in its 
stripes. It is a chalice, and the drink is 
bitter; but strength proceeds from the 
bitterness. It is a crown of thorns; 
but it becomes a wreath of light on the 
brow which it has lacerated. It is a cross 
on which the spirit groans; but every 
Calvary has an Olivet. To every place of 
crucifixion there is likewise a place of as- 

55 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

cension. The sun that was shrouded is 
unveiled, and heaven opens with hopes 
eternal to the soul which was nigh unto 
despair. — H. Giles. 

The path of sorrow, and that path alone, 
Leads to the land where sorrow is unknown; 
No traveler e^er reached that blest abode 
Who found not thorns and briers in his road. 

But He, who knew what human hearts would prove, 
How slow to learn the dictates of His love, 
That, hard by nature, and of stubborn will, 
A life of ease would make them harder still. 
In pity to the souls His grace designed 
To rescue from the ruins of mankind. 
Called for a cloud to darken all their years. 
And said, ^'Go spend them in the vale of tears.'' 

— William Cowper. 

The Godward Pull of Trials. — Trial 
brings man face to face with God — God 
and he touch ; and the flimsy veil of bright 
cloud that hung between him and the sky 
is blown away. He feels that he is stand- 
ing outside the earth, with nothing be- 
tween him and the eternal Infinite. Oh! 
there is something in the sick-bed, and the 
aching heart, and the restlessness and the 
languor of shattered health, and the sor- 
roAV of affections withered, and the stream 
of life poisoned at its fountain, and the 

56 



THE DAY OF AFFLICTION 

cold, lonely feeling of utter rawness of 
heart which is felt when God strikes 
home in earnest, that forces a man to feel 
what is real, and what is not. — Frederick 
W. Robertson, 

Nearer, my God, to thee, 

Nearer to thee! 
E'en though it be a cross 

That raiseth me, 
Still all my song shall be, 
Nearer, my God, to thee. 

Nearer to thee! 

—Mrs. S. F, Adams, 



57 



V 

THE CHILD'S CRY AND THE 
FATHER'S ANSWER 

THE CRY. 

The way is dark, my Father! Cloud on cloud 
Is gathering thickly o^er my head, and loud 
The thunders roar above me. See, I stand 
Like one bewildered! Father, take my hand, 

And through the gloom 

Lead safely home 
Thy child. 

The day goes fast, my Father! and the night 
Is drawing darkly down. My faithless sight 
Sees ghostly visions. Fears, a spectral band, 
Encompass me. O Father! take my hand, 

And from the night 

Lead up to light 
Thy child. 

The way is long, my Father! and my soul 
Longs for the rest and quiet of the goal: 
While yet I journey through this weary land. 
Keep me from wandering. Father, take my hand; 

Quickly and straight 

Lead to heaven's gate 
Thy child. 

The path is rough, my Father! Many a thorn 
Has pierced me; and my weary feet, all torn 

58 



THE CRY AND THE ANSWER 

And bleeding, mark the way. Yet tliy command 
Bids me press forward. Father, take my hand; 

Then, safe and blest, 

Lead up to rest 
Thy child. 

The throng is great, my Father! Many a doubt 
And fear and danger compass me about; 
And foes oppress me sore. I can not stand 
Or go alone. O Father! take my hand. 

And through the throng 

Lead safe along 
Thy child. 

The cross is heavy. Father! I have borne 
It long, and still do bear it. Let my worn 
And fainting spirit rise to that blest land 
Where crowns are given. Father, take my hand 

And, reaching down, 

Lead to the crown 
Thy child. 

THE ANSWER. 

The way is dark, my child; but leads to light; 
I would not always have thee walk by sight. 
My dealings now thou canst not understand. 
I meant it so; but I will take thy hand. 

And through the gloom 

Lead safely home 
My child. 

The day goes fast, my child! But is the night 
Darker to me than day? In me is light! 
Keep close to me, and every spectral band 
Of fears shall vanish. I will take thy handj 
And through the night 
Lead up to light 
My child. 
59 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

The way is long, my child! But it shall be 
Not one step longer than is best for thee, 
And thou shalt know, at last, when thou shalt stand 
Safe at the goal, how I did take thy hand 

And quick and straight 

Lead to heaven's gate 
My child. 

The path is rough, my child! But, oh! how sweet 
Will be the rest, for weary pilgrims meet, 
When thou shalt reach the borders of that land 
To which I lead thee, as I take thy hand. 

And safe and blest 

With me shalt rest, 
My child. 

The throng is great, my child! But at thy side 
Thy Father walks. Then, be not terrified. 
For 1 am with thee; will thy foes command 
To let thee freely pass; will take thy hand, 

And through the throng 

Lead safe along 
My child. 

The cross is heavy, child! Yet there was One 
Who bore a heavier for thee: my Son, 
My well beloved. For him bear thine; and stand 
With him at last; and from thy Father's hand, 

Thy cross laid down, 

Receive a crown, 

My child. — F. N. C. 



60 



VI 

THE CHRISTIAN'S WANTS 

I want that adorning divine, 

Thou only, my God, canst bestow; 

I want in those beautiful garments to shine 
Which distinguished thy household below. 

(Put on therefore, as the elect of God^ 
holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kind- 
ness, hnmbleness of mind, meekness, long- 
suffering; forbearing one another, and 
forgiving one another, if any man have a 
quarrel against any: even as Christ for- 
gave you, so also do ye. And above all 
these things put on charity, which is the 
bond of perfectness. — Col. 3:12-14.) 

I want, oh! I want to attain 

Some likeness, my Saviour, to thee: 

That longed-for resemblance to gain, 
Thy comeliness put upon me. 

(It doth not yet appear what we shall 
be ; but we know that,' when he shall ap- 
pear, we shall be like him; for we shall 
see him as he is. And every man that 

61 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

hath this hope in him purifieth himself, 
even as he is pure. — 1 John 3:2, 3.) 

I want to be marked for thine own; 

Tliy seal on my forehead to wear; 
To receive that ''new name'' on the mystic white 
stone, 

Which only thyself canst declare. 

(To him that overcometh will I give 
to eat of the hidden manna, and will give 
him a white stone, and in the stone a new 
name written, which no man knoweth sav- 
ing he that receiveth it. — Rev. 2:17.) 

I want, every moment, to feel 

That the Spirit does dwell in my heart; 

That his power is present to cleanse and to heal, 
And newmess of life to impart. 

(For as many as are led by the Spirit 
of God, they are the sons of God. . . . 
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our 
spirit, that we are the children of God: 
and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, 
and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that 
we suffer with him that we may be also 
glorified together. — Eom. 8:14, 16, 17.) 

I want so in thee to abide, 

As to bring forth some fruit to thy praise; 
The branch that thou prunest, though feeble and dried, 

May languish, but never decays. 
62 



THE CHRISTIAN'S WANTS 

(Abide in me, and I in you. As the 
branch can not bear fruit of itself, except 
it abide in the vine; no more can ye, ex- 
cept ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye 
are the branches: he that abideth in me, 
and I in him, the same bringeth forth 
much fruit. — John 15:4, 5.) 

I want thine own hand to unbind 

Each tie to terrestial things 
Too tenderly cherished, too closely entwined, 

Where my heart too tenaciously clings. 

(Love not the world, neither the things 
that are in the world. If any man love 
the world, the love of the Father is not in 
him. For all that is in the world, the lust 
of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and 
the pride of life, i's not of the Father, but 
is of the world. — 1 John 2:15, 16.) 

I want, by my aspect serene, 

My actions and words, to declare 
That my treasure is placed in a country unseen, 

That my heart and affections are there. 

(Lay not up for yourselves treasures 
upon earth, where moth and rust doth 
corrupt, and where thieves break through 
and steal: but lay up for yourselves 
treasures in heaven, where neither moth 
nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves 
5 63 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

do not break through nor steal : for where 
your treasure is, there will your heart be 
also.— Matt. 6:19-21.) 

I want, as a traveler, to haste 

Straight onward, nor pause on my way; 

No forethought or anxious contrivance to waste 
On my tent, only pitched for a day. 

(For here have we no continuing city, 
but we seek one to come. — Heb. 13:14). 

I want (and this sums up my prayer) 

To glorify thee till I die; 
Then calmly to yield up my soul to thy care, 

And breathe out in prayer my last sigh. 

(For I am now ready to be offered, 
and the time of my departure is at hand. 
I have fought a good fight, I have finished 
my course, I have kept the faith: hence- 
forth there is laid up for me a crown 
of righteousness. — 2 Tim. 4 : 6-8. Lord 
Jesus, receive my spirit. — Acts 7:59.) 
— Poem from ^^The Changed Cross/' 



64 



VII 

THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

*'Whom God hath made the heads of families, 
He hath made priests to offer sacrifice. 
Daily let part of Holy Writ be read, 
Let, as the body, so the soul have bread; 
For look, how many souls in thy house be. 
With just as many souls God trusteth thee. '^ 

npHE family underlies and gives char- 
-*■ aoter to the state. Out of a nation's 
homes are the issues of its life. They 
are the fountains whence flow the streams 
of its existence — pure, refreshing, and 
life-giving, or polluted, poisoned, and 
death-dealing. Ancient Rome owed her 
greatness to the sanctity of her domestic 
ties and the sacredness of her homes. 
^^The whole structure of the Roman Com- 
monwealth," we are told, ^^ arose, com- 
pacted and mortised together, but resting 
on the foundation of the hearthstone. 
. . . And she fell not till she was cor- 
rupted and tainted at the heart. The 

65 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

domestic corruption preceded the politi- 
cal. When there was no longer purity 
on her hearthstones, there ceased to be 
integrity in her Senate, and not till then 
was her death-knell rung." History 
teaches that a nation stands or falls ac- 
cording to the character of its home life. 
It is, then, a patriotic duty to make 
our homes temples of God, in which the 
parents are God's ministers, training 
their children, by precept and example, 
to the highest manhood and womanhood, 
and forming in them the disposition 
which will lead them to follow after the 
things that are true, honest, just, pure, 
lovely, and praiseworthy. Burns, after 
describing family worship in the cotter's 
humble home, where the ^^ priestlike 
father" reverently reads to his children 
from the sacred page and ^^ proffers up 
to heaven the warm request" that the 
Lord will provide for him and his loved 
ones, and ^'chiefly in their hearts with 
grace divine preside," says: ^^From 
scenes like these Scotia's grandeur 
springs." From such scenes sprang the 
true and ennobling home life which pro- 
duced the heroes and heroines who made 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

our own country glorious in the past; 
and such scenes are needed to keep alive 
the manhood and womanhood that will 
uphold and perpetuate its glory. 

The desire to promote happiness in 
the home circle, no less than the desire 
to so train their children that they will 
become upright, honorable, and useful 
men and women, should impel parents 
to diligently observe family worship. 
The father who daily gathers the mem- 
bers of his family around him for the 
worship of God, and seeks to draw them 
heavenward by divine teaching and godly 
example, uses the most effective means 
of overcoming the evil passions and ten- 
dencies that give rise to discord, and 
preserving peace, good will, and happi- 
ness in his household. The happiest 
home is one in which truth, goodness, 
honor, harmony, and love are nourished, 
and nothing nourishes them like com- 
munion with God and divine things. 

''List to the Saviour ^s words! 'Where two or three 
Meet in my name, there in the midst am I.' 

Believe, and welcome to thy family 

The gracious Guest; and by His blessing try 

How much domestic bliss and amity 

Hang on domestic worship's hallowing tie/' 

67 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

From a religious point of view, every 
one must acknowledge the obligation to 
keep the fires of devotion to God bright- 
ly burning in the home. Although it 
may not be expressly commanded in the 
New Testament, the home altar is needed 
to shape the domestic life in accordance 
with New Testament teaching, and to 
faithfully perform the duty of bringing 
the children up ^4n the nurture and 
admonition of the Lord." Let no one 
suppose that worship in the home is ren- 
dered unnecessary by public worship. 
Each promotes the other; and experience 
teaches that, where the sacrifice of 
praise, thanksgiving, and prayer is not 
offered on the family altar, public wor- 
ship is either neglected altogether, or 
becomes little mor.e than empty con- 
formity to custom. 

But however conducive to the welfare 
of the nation, the happiness of the home, 
and the prosperity of the church, family 
worship may be, its benefits are largely 
conditional. In order that it may, in the 
fullest measure, promote the well-being 
of the household, and through them the 
well-being of church and state, those who 

es 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

conduct it must live consistently with 
their teaching and their prayers. The 
father who teaches his children that the 
service of the Lord yields the only en- 
during good, and prays that they may 
^^seek first the kingdom of God and his 
righteousness, ' ' and then goes forth him- 
self to ^^seek first" the things of the 
world, counteracts the good influence of 
his home worship by his example. ^'His 
works pull exactly contrary to the pull 
of his prayers and teaching;'' and his 
children will be quick to see it and be 
adversely influenced by it. "Where there 
is such inconsistency between the prayers 
and the lives of the parents, it is not 
strange that children grow up to be god- 
less despite the regular observance of 
worship in their homes. 

That worship in the home may be 
productive of the best results, it must 
not be permitted to degenerate into mere 
formality. To guard against this, the 
parents should study to keep it free from 
depressing austerity and solemnity, and 
make it interesting and attractive. There 
should be hymns of an inspiring and joy- 
ful character, in the singing of which the 

69 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

children will gladly join. The Scripture 
lesson should be selected with considera- 
tion; should be short, and impressively 
read; and, when feasible, should be appli- 
cable to the circumstances of the house- 
hold. After the lesson from the Bible, 
some minutes may be profitably spent in 
familiar conversation about it, the chil- 
dren being encouraged to talk as freely 
as they would about a lesson from some 
other book. They should be made to 
feel that God is not a stern, harsh despot 
before whom they must come with cring- 
ing fear, and of whom they must think 
and speak with the timidity arising from 
dread; but a tender and loving Father, 
who does not wish his sons and daugh- 
ters to be afraid of him, but would have 
them think and speak of him with the 
confidence of a little child in a loving 
mother. The prayers, too, should be 
short, and followed by the Lord's 
Prayer, slowly recited by all. The brief 
season of worship, thoughtfully prepared 
for by the parents beforehand, should 
leave the household thinking of God as a 
loving Father, and cheerful and joyful, 
rather than cast down and gloomy. 

70 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

To give a form for the observance of 
worship in the family seemis undesirable; 
for the daily repetition of such a form 
would tend to deprive the worship of 
freshness, interest, and fervor, and make 
it little more than a lifeless and unprofit- 
able routine. It is hoped, however, that 
the following collection of prayers, with 
indicated Scripture lessons, may be sug- 
gestive and helpful. To give greater 
variety and value to the collection, ten of 
the petitions are selections from ^^ Great 
Souls in Prayer." 

PRAYERS. 

I. Psalm 103, and 2 Pet. 1 : 2-9. 

Lord our God, thy throne is estab- 
lished in the heavens and thy kingdom 
ruleth over all, yet thou dost condescend 
to consider us, and to watch over and 
care for us with ineffable tenderness and 
love. Reverently we bow in thy pres- 
ence, and lift up our hearts in praise, 
thanksgiving, and prayer to thee. 

We praise thee for thy goodness and 
for thy wonderful works to the children 
of men. When we call to mind the mani- 

71 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

fold manifestations of thy wisdom and 
benevolence vouchsafed unto ns day after 
day, and especially when we think of thy 
wondrous love as revealed by thy well- 
beloved Son, we feel constrained to call 
upon our souls, and all that is within us, 
to bless thy holy name. 

And we would not forget thy benefits 
to us. We have been unworthy children, 
often forgetting thee, neglecting our duty 
to thee, and doing things displeasing to 
thee. But thou hast not dealt with us 
after our sins, nor rewarded us accord- 
ing to our iniquities. Remembering our 
weakness, thou hast pitied us as a father 
pitieth his children; and, notwithstand- 
ing our unworthiness, thou hast poured 
out upon us an unfailing stream of bless- 
ings. We thank thee, Lord, for thy 
great mercy and forgiving love. 

And we pray that, in the days to 
come, we may be more faithful, more 
loving, and more obedient children. May 
w^e have unwavering faith in thee through 
all the trials of life; and, giving all dili- 
gence, may we add to our faith virtue, 
and knowledge, and temperance, and 
patience, and godliness, and brotherly 

72 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

kindness, and charity. May these things 
so abound in us that we shall be neither 
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge 
of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we be- 
come, day by day, more firmly rooted 
and grounded in righteousness and more 
fully partakers of the divine nature, more 
like thee in thought, desire, and purpose, 
until at last we shall awake in thy like- 
ness and be satisfied forever. Amen. 

IL Ps. 37:1-9; Matt. 6:24-34. 

O Thou who art wise in heart and 
mighty in strength, able to succor them 
that are tried, and save unto the utter- 
most them that come unto thee, we re- 
joice that thou dost invite us to commit 
our way to thee, and cast all our cares 
on thee, in the full assurance that thou 
wilt care for us. 

And now, Thou great and loving 
bearer of the burdens of thy children, we 
come to thee, bringing all our worries, 
all our trials, all the things that disquiet 
us. They are all known to thee, Lord 
— our pains of body and our distress of 
mind — ^the weaknesses, the sufferings, the 
disappointments, the heartaches, and all 

73 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

the troubles and afflictions that come to 
us and sadden our lives. We bring them 
to thee, praying that, if it be consistent 
with thy holy will and loving purpose, 
thou wilt graciously deliver us from 
them. But if thou dost see that they are 
needed to wean our affections from the 
things of the world, purify our hearts, 
and draw us into closer and sweeter fel- 
lowship with thee, take them not from us, 
we beseech thee, but give us the faith and 
courage and strength that will enable us 
to accept them as gifts lovingly bestowed 
by thee, and to bear them patiently, 
resignedly, and joyfully. 

Mercifully pardon the sins of our 
past, Lord; and grant unto us in the 
future the things, whether pleasant or 
painful, joyous or sorrowful, that thou, 
in thine infinite wisdom, shalt see to be 
necessary to purge our hearts of all sin- 
ful desires and affections, and unite us 
to thyself with a bond of love which no 
worldly temptation can break. Amen. 

in. Psalm 1; Matt. 7:24-27. 

Lord, the earth is thine, and the 
fullness thereof; the world, and they that 

74 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

dwell therein. We, with all that we are 
and have, proceed from thee, are sus- 
tained by thee, belong unto thee; and 
only as we delight in thy law, do what 
thou dost command, and come into spir- 
itual accord with thee, can we find the 
true end of our being and the rest and 
peace for which we yearn. When we are 
restless and discontented, troubled, fear- 
ful, discouraged, and depressed, it is 
because we have not walked in the ways 
of wisdom to which thou dost call us, 
and are estranged from thee — because 
things seen and temporal have so blinded 
us, and so weakened the impulses of our 
better nature, that we have failed to 
rightly appreciate, desire, and pursue the 
things unseen and eternal. 

And now, gracious Father, in our 
blindness and weakness, we cry unto 
thee for sight and strength. Wherein 
we have failed to delight in thy law, and, 
instead of giving heed to the sayings of 
thy Son, have walked in the counsel of 
the ungodly, mercifully pardon us; and, 
as children rest in the arms of a loving 
mother, enable us to lay our heads upon 
thy forgiving bosom, and feel something 

. 75 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

of the joy and peace which thou alone 
canst give. 

And we pray, onr Father, that we 
may have snch a perception of the true 
and the good, and such a steadfastness 
of purpose in the pursuit of righteous- 
ness, that henceforth we shall live in 
loving obedience to thy will, and be like 
the wise man whose house, founded upon 
a rock, falls not when the floods come 
and the winds blow. May we come into 
fuller accord with thee in thought, word, 
and deed, and so find the peace which the 
world can neither give nor take away — 
the peace of God, which passeth thought 
and floweth on without decrease and en- 
dureth forever. Amen. 

IV. Luke 15 : 11-32. 

Thou who inhabitest eternity, we 
thank thee that thou hast revealed thyself 
unto us as our Father, and that thou hast 
imparted to us so much of thy divine 
nature that we can never find enduring 
peace and satisfaction away from thee. 
Blinded by ^^the lust of the flesh, and the 
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,'^ 
we may mistake the shadow for the sub- 

76 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

stance, and, fancying that we can find hap- 
piness in the vanities of the world, spend 
our strength in the eager pursuit of 
earthly riches, honors, and pleasures; but 
sooner or later, like the prodigal son, we 
must come to see that such things are 
husks, and can never appease the hunger 
of our hearts — that only in thy house, our 
Father, where the hired servants have 
enough and to spare, can the craving of 
our souls be satisfied. And we bless and 
praise thee that, when our eyes are 
opened to see the truth and we come back 
to thee from our wanderings, thou dost 
run to meet us, and give us a warm kiss 
of welcome, and call upon all thy house 
to rejoice with thee because of our 
return. 

We thank thee for the forgiving love 
that pardons and welcomes us when want 
and suffering bring us back to thee, but 
we pray that we may feel our need of 
thee without wandering away and being 
scourged into realizing it. May we real- 
ize it now. As we go forth to the work 
that lies before us in life, may we carry 
with us such a deep and pervading sense 
of thee as our only refuge and comfort,, 

77 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

that the temptations of the world will be 
powerless to allure us from the paths 
that lead to thee. 

Graciously prepare us for life's 
duties, bless us according to the multi- 
tude of thy tender mercies, and bring us 
at last into the ^inheritance incorruptible, 
and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, 
reserved in heaven for thy children/' 
Amen. 

V. Rom. 8:13-19, 24-28, 32-39. 

Most merciful Father, thou art our 
refuge from every storm, our succor in 
every trouble, our comfort in every afflic- 
tion, and our ^^ present help in every time 
of need." 

Conscious of our unworthiness, know- 
ing that we have sinned against thee in 
many ways and come far short of the 
divine calling, we come before thee with 
shame and penitence; but, rejoicing in 
the assurance of thy pardoning love, we 
pray that thou wilt cleanse our hearts 
from all impure and unholy desires and 
affections, and grant unto us in full meas- 
ure the spirit that Avill change us from 
glory to glory into the image of the Lord. 

78 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

And believing that thou art causing all 
things to work together for our good, 
and that neither death nor life, nor things 
present, nor things to come, shall be able 
to separate us from thy love, may we 
walk with thee confidently and fearlessly 
day by day, and gratefully and cheerfully 
accept whatever thou shalt bestow upon 
us. 

Lord, we kiiow not what we should 
pray for as we ought. Our eyes are 
darkened, and we can not see what is 
best for us. But in our hearts there is 
a ceaseless longing for something that 
we have not; a yearning, more or less 
keenly felt, for more life and fuller; a 
groaning to rise up out of discord and 
'Struggle and sorrow into peace and rest 
and joy. We pray that thou wilt gra- 
ciously consider these longings and 
groanings of the spirit within us and 
answer them according to thy boundless 
wisdom and love. Choose for us, 
Lord; and quiet all our groanings and 
fulfill all our longings by bringing us to 
rest in thy bosom, with hearts beating in 
time and tune with thine, and rejoicing 
with a joy unspeakable. Amen. 
6 79 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

VI. James 1. 

Father of lights, from whom oometh 
every good gift and every perfect gift, 
and whose gifts are bestowed most boun- 
tifully and lovingly, thou art the sun 
that never sets, but shines with unremit- 
ting brightness and warmth, cheering, 
comforting, and quickening all who do 
not hide themselves from it in the shades 
of the world. Thou dost give light to 
them that sit in darkness and in the 
shadow of death, to guide their feet into 
the way of peace. 

We rejoice that with thee there is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning; 
that thou art the same yesterday, to-day, 
and forever; that, though our vision may 
be so obscured that we can not see it, 
the effulgence of thy glory is never 
dimmed; that though, led by the light of 
our own weak minds, we often take the 
wrong for the right, the light of thy wis- 
dom is never darkened, and unerringly 
discerns and reveals the true and the 
good; that though we may sin against 
thee, and become incapable of receiving 
and enjoying the good and perfect gifts 

80 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

thou dost offer unto us, the warm glow 
of thy love for us never changes, and 
thou art always ready to forgive and 
yearning to bless us. 

Enable us, our Father, to open the 
windows of our darkened minds and 
hearts so that thou wilt shine in upon 
them and dispel all the vain imaginations 
that blind them, and pervert their 
thoughts and desires. Grant unto us 
such a vision of thine effulgent glory, in- 
finite wisdom, and ineffable loveliness as 
will win us wholly to thy service, inspire 
us with an overpowering desire for thee, 
and lead us to zealously do every, work, 
cheerfully bear every burden, and joy- 
fully endure every cross that will bring 
us nearer to thee, and give us the peace 
that abideth forever. Amen. 

VII. Ps. 32:7-11; 33:10-22. 

O thou infinite and eternal One, who 
art the giver and sustainer of all life, we 
lift up our hearts unto thee in praise and 
thanksgiving. ^^Thou art our hiding 
place; thou shalt preserve us from trou- 
ble; thou shalt compass us about with 
songs of deliverance.'' Our hearts shall 

81 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

rejoice in thee, and trust in thy holy 
name. Sometimes thy goodness may be 
veiled by clouds which our weak vision 
can not pierce, but we believe that thou 
art doing all things wisely, lovingly, and 
well — that, even when thou art leading 
us through clouds and darkness, thou art 
leading us into the light of an ampler 
day. 

May this faith dwell in our hearts as 
it dwelt in the hearts of thy faithful ser- 
vants of old, and make us, as it made 
them, patient and courageous and strong 
in meeting the troubles and performing 
the duties of life. Amid all the trials 
that shall come to us, may our souls wait 
for thee and be of good cheer, believing 
that in thine own way, which is wisest, 
and in thine own time, which is best, thou 
wilt bring us peace and satisfy us with 
good. 

Bless us, we beseech thee, according 
to thy great goodness and our various 
needs. May divine love possess our 
hearts and consecrate us to divine ser- 
vice. May we do what thou dost require 
of us in all things, not merely because 
thou dost require it, but because our wills 

S2. 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

are in perfect accord with thine and we 
find our highest pleasure in the things 
that are pleasing to thee. 

Give unto us^ day by day, whatever 
may be necessary to our physical and 
spiritual well-being. Wherein we are 
weak, give us strength; wherein we are 
despondent and fearful, give us hope and 
courage; wherein we are sorrowful, com- 
fort us. Make us more and more like 
thyself until we shall reflect thine image 
as the mirror reflects the face of one who 
looks into it, and have the joy that is 
found in perfect accord with thee. Amen. 

VIII. Gal. 5:14-26; 6:2-10. 

Gracious Father, thou dost watch over 
and care for all the children whom thou 
hast brought into being, with a vigilance 
that never sleeps, a wisdom that never 
errs, and a love that never fails. We 
pray that thou wilt be with us now, and 
grant unto each of us a realizing sense 
of thy presence. May thy Spirit take 
possession of our hearts and yield the 
fruit of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, 
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, 
and temperance in our lives. May there 

83 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

be shown in our behavior no sourness 
of temper or harshness of speech — no 
fretfulness, bickering, ill will, or selfish- 
ness ; but may we dwell together in peace 
and love, be always tender-hearted and 
forgiving, and ready at all times to cheer- 
fully bear one another 's burdens and so 
fulfill the law of Christ. Through all the 
stress and storm of this life, may we hold 
fast to thee and to one another ; and, when 
we shall lay our burdens down and pass 
through the gates of death into thy pres- 
ence, may each of us be welcomed to the 
kingdom prepared for the righteous and 
to joy at thy right hand forever. Amen. 

IX. Matt. 25:14-30. 

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive 
glory and honor and power : for thou hast 
created all things. We, thy dependent 
creatures, bow before thee, and thank 
thee for the life w^hich thou hast given us. 
We thank thee that thou hast not made us 
in all respects alike, but, by endowing us 
differently, hast bestowed upon us the 
manifold pleasures and benefits arising 
from diversity in thoughts, feelings, and 
capacities. May we so recognize thy wis- 

84 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

dom and goodness in this that we shall 
neither envy those who are more richly 
endowed than ourselves, nor look down 
npon those of poorer gifts. May we feel 
that our talents, whether great or small, 
belong to thee, and are committed to our 
trust to be used in thy service ; that thou 
wilt require of every one according to 
what he hath, and not according to what 
he hath not; and that we deserve, and 
shall receive from thee, praise or censure, 
not for the gifts thou hast intrusted to us, 
but for the use we make of them. 

And we beseech thee, Lord our God, 
to help us so that we may neither neglect 
them and permit them to die of disuse, 
nor use them to further selfish or un- 
worthy ends, but freely exercise them in 
lovingly serving others, and thus serving 
thee. Even though we may have but one 
talent, may we not esteem it worthless and 
bury it, but make it conducive to the ac- 
complishment of thy righteous purposes, 
remembering that ^Hhe commonest service 
is divine service"; that he ^^who sweeps 
a room, as for thy will, makes that and 
the action fine"; and that he who puts but 
an atom of brightness and sweetness into 

85 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

the life of any man or woman is a co- 
worker with thee. 

May we ^^do the thing we can^ and not 
presume to fret because it's little ''; and, 
in doing little services day by day, may 
we climb the stairway that leads to thee, 
and come at last into the glory of thy 
presence, and with glad hearts hear thee 
say unto each of us: ^'Well done, good 
and faithful servant ; thou hast been faith- 
ful over a few things, I will make thee 
ruler over many things: enter thou into 
the joy of thy Lord." Amen. 

X. 1 Corinthians 13. 

Unto thee, O Lord, belong all attri- 
butes that are worthy of praise; but over 
all, controlling and directing all, is love. 
Thou art Love, and all thy works are 
loving. As a Father in whose heart there 
glows the love that seeketh not its own, 
that suffereth long and is kind, and that 
never faileth, thou dost think of us, work 
for us, care for us, protect us, and pro- 
vide for us. "Whether it be thine approv- 
ing smile or thy chastening frown, that 
which thou dost bestow upon us is given 
in love, and designed for our good. It is 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

because thou dost love us and desire our 
happiness, and dost know that only in 
thine arms can our troubled souls find rest, 
that thou dost call us to thyself and ask 
us to give thee our hearts. 

We pray, Lord, that we may be 
enabled to truly answer thy loving call. 
May we' not only praise thee with our 
lips, but worship thee in spirit and in 
truth. May there be awakened in our 
hearts that divine love without which 
tongues, knowledge, faith, and all outward 
works, profit nothing; which will destroy 
all that is evil and nourish all that is good 
within us; and which will mold our lives 
into full accord with thy self -giving life. 

Take our hearts, our Father, unworthy 
of thy love as they are; and, if gentler 
measures will not avail, send unto them 
thy chastening ministers to purify them, 
and make them perfect in the love that 
uniteth to thee, casteth out tormenting 
fear, beareth all things, never faileth, 
and giveth peace forever. Amen. 

XL Phil. 2:1-16. 

Gracious and ever-merciful God, the 
heavens declare thy glory, and the firma- 

87 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVO IIONS 

ment showeth thy handiwork. Day unto 
day nttereth speech, and night nnto night 
showeth knowledge. The worlds above 
that circle through space, unerringly 
guided by thee; the sun that floods with 
light and warmth the world in which we 
live; the fruitful earth, which is full of 
thy goodness ; the fowls of the air and the 
lilies of the field; all the texts in nature's 
marvelous Bible, when rightly interpreted 
— bear witness to thy power, and wisdom, 
and goodness. But we thank thee that 
thou hast given unto us a clearer and 
fuller manifestation of thy wondrous 
goodness and love through our Lord Jesus 
Christ, thy well-beloved Son, who humbled 
himself, and dwelt among men in the form 
of a servant, and sacrificed himself in 
their service even unto death on the cross. 
We bless thee, God, for his unveil- 
ing of thy loving heart and self -giving life, 
and we pray that it may influence our 
minds and hearts so as to mold our lives 
into perfect accord with thy will, and 
bring us into sweeter fellowship with thee. 
May thy self-sacrificing love for us drive 
all selfishness from our hearts; kad us 
to look on the things of others, and lov- 

88 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

ingly minister to them; cause us to live 
without murmurings and disputings; and 
make ns blameless and harmless, the chil- 
dren of God without rebuke in this pres- 
ent world. May the spirit of the loving 
and self-sacrificing Christ be formed in us 
so that, when we pass from this life, we 
may be prepared to dwell with him in thy 
presence and drink ^^of the fountain of 
the water 'of life freely'' forever. Amen. 

XII. Phil. 3:7-14; Heb. 12:1-7. 

Lord of heaven and earth, we render 
thanks to thee for the love and care with 
which thou hast watched over us and sup- 
plied our manifold wants day after day, 
and we implore thy forgiveness for the 
f orgetfulness of thee, and the many short- 
comings and transgressions that have 
made us unworthy of thy kind regard and 
gracious bounty. And we pray, Lord, 
that we may be enabled to utterly re- 
nounce every sinful desire, unrighteous 
purpose, and ungodly doing of our past 
lives, and henceforth strive more earnest- 
ly to live in harmony with thee. May we 
forget the things that are behind, save in 
so far as we can learn wisdom from them 

89 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

and make them stepping-stones to better 
things, and, reaching forth unto the things 
which are before, press toward the mark 
for the prize of th'C high calling of God 
in Christ Jesus. May we be willing to 
suffer the loss of all things that we may 
win Christ, and be made conformable to 
his death by having our spirits made one 
with the loving and self -giving spirit that 
led him to yield up his life on the cross. 
And looking unto him, and considering 
how he endured the contradiction of sin- 
ners against himself, may we never be- 
come wearied and faint in our minds, but 
run with patience the race that is set 
before us. Graciously grant, Lord, that, 
through every sorrow, every trial, and 
every hindrance, we may patiently press 
on unto the perfect day, and find at last 
the unspeakable blessedness that awaits 
those who overcome the world through 
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

XIIL Matt. 11: 28-30; 1 Pet. 2: 6-12, 21-25. 

Most gracious Father, we are thy chil- 
dren. In thine infinite wisdom and love, 
thou hast brought us in^o being endowed 
with immortal spirits that can never be 

90 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

at peace until they come into loving ac- 
cord with thee. And we thank thee, our 
Father, that thon hast manifested thy- 
self unto lis in thy beloved Son, so that 
we may know thee, and come unto thee 
through him, and find rest unto our souls 
amid all the toils and cares and disap- 
pointments and sorrows of this present 
world. 

And we pray, Lord, that we may be 
enabled to come unto him truly and fully ; 
that we may take his yoke upon us and 
learn of him who was meek and lowly in 
heart; that we may follow the steps of 
him who did no sin, neither was guile 
found in his mouth; that, like him, we 
may revile not again when we are reviled, 
threaten not when we suffer, but commit 
our cause to thy righteous judgment ; that 
we may come up to the full measure of 
the stature of manhood revealed by him 
who was 'One with thee; and that we may 
thus como into the spiritual oneness with 
thee and the unwavering trust in thee 
which will bring us into accord with the 
divine nature we have inherited from 
thee, deliver us from the condemnation of 
our own hearts, free us from all the tor- 

91 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

menting cares and anxieties of life, and 
fill our souls with the peace that passeth 
thought and the divine joy that abideth 
forever. Amen. 

XIV. Ps. 96; 97:9-12. 

Great art thou, Lord, and greatly to 
be praised. Humbly we bow before thee, 
desiring to worship thee in the beauty of 
holiness and give unto thee the glory due 
unto thy name. With sincere and fervent 
gratitude we acknowledge thy goodness to 
us, manifested in an ever-renewed stream 
of blessings poured out upon us day after 
day. 

And, as thy blessings are daily re- 
newed unto us, we pray that our hearts 
may daily sing unto thee a new song — a 
song with still toftier strains of praise, 
still deeper and purer notes of gratitude, 
and still sweeter tones of love. May thy 
goodness and mercy to us lead us to hate 
evil, walk in the path of -the just, which 
is as the shining light, and show forth thy 
salvation from day to day. May we ever 
hallow thy n»ame in our hearts, lovingly 
and joyfully do thy will in all things, and 
so glorify thee in our lives that our 

92 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

friends and associates will be influenced 
by our example to worship thee and con- 
secrate their lives to thy righteous and 
peace-giving service, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 

XV. Proverbs 3. 

All-wise and ever-loving Lord, from 
whom all good cometh, teach us, we be- 
seech thee, to apply our hearts unto wis- 
dom — not unto the wisdom of the world, 
which counts material welfare and success 
the highest good, and not unto the wisdom 
of our own darkened understanding, which 
so often mistakes the false for the true 
and the wrong for the right, but unto the 
wisdom that is from above, which is ^^ first 
pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be 
entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, 
without partiality, and without hypoc- 
risy. ' ' May our minds and hearts be fully 
possessed by this divine wisdom, which is 
more precious than rubies and more to be 
desired than all the riches and glories of 
the world, because ^^her ways are ways of 
pleasantness and all her paths are peace. ^' 
Open thou, we beseech thee, the eyes of 
our understanding, so that we shall unerr- 

93 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

ingly discern her ways; and grant that 
the spirit of truth and righteousness may 
ever abide within us and lead us to unfal- 
teringly and unfailingly walk in her paths, 
be fruitful in every good work, increase 
in the knowledge and love of God, and 
find grace and peace and the joy of the 
upright in heart multiplied unto us hence- 
forth and evermore. Amen. 

XVL Heb. 11:1-9, 23-27, 32-34. 

Lord, when we read of the faith and 
fidelity of thy, servants in the olden time 
— of how, believing in thee as ^^a reward- 
er of them that diligently seek thee, ' ' 
Abraham, in obedience to thy call, left his 
home and his country and ^^went out not 
kno^dng whither he went"; of how Moses 
^^ chose rather to suifer affliction with the 
people of God than to enjoy the pleasures 
of sin for a season"; and of how many 
heroic souls of the long ago through faith 
patiently endured sufferings, wrought 
righteousness, and subdued kingdoms — we 
feel ashamed of the weakness of our own 
faith and the littleness of our own work. 
We beseech thee, Lord, to graciously 
forgive our distrust and unfaithfulness, 

94 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

and help us to trust thee more fully, to 
commit ourselves wholly to thy guidance, 
and to bravely and cheerfully obey every 
divine call, even though it may be to the 
utmost self-denial, self-sacrifice, and suf- 
fering. 

Lord, we believe; help thou our unbe- 
lief. Grant unto us a faith that will not 
doubt the wisdom and love of thy provi- 
dence in the darkest hour of life; that will 
enable us to face all dangers fearlessly, 
to bear all burdens patiently, and to spend 
and be spent in thy service gladly; and 
that will so strengthen us that, ^^ enduring 
as seeing the invisible,'' we shall over- 
come the world with all its temptations 
and be found at last among the blessed 
ones whose names will be confessed be- 
fore his Father by our Lord and Saviour, 
Jesus Christ. Amen. 

XVIL Psalm 42; Isa. 61:1-3, 10, 11; 1 
John 3 : 1-3. 

We thank thee, Father, for the bless- 
ing of hope that ^^ springs eternal in the 
human breast" to comfort, encourage, 
and inspirit the soul when it is cast down 
and disquieted by the cares, disappoint- 

7 95 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

ments, and sorrows of life, and call it 
from failure to renewed effort. And, 
above all other hopes that spring np in 
onr hearts, we thank thee for the hope 
that is in thee — the hope that, ^^as the 
earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the 
garden causeth the things that are sown 
in it to spring forth,'' thou '^wilt cause 
righteousness and praise to spring forth 
before all nations"; that thou wilt cause 
light to arise out of darkness, lead 
through every night of weeping to a 
morning of joy, and give unto thy chil- 
dren ^^ beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for 
mourning, and the garment of praise for 
the spirit of heaviness." 

Everlastingly loving Father, we thank 
and adore thee that thou hast graciously 
conferred upon us the honor and dignity 
of sonship, and hast given unto us the 
inspiring hope that through all the trials 
of life thou art dramng us nearer to thy- 
self, and that by and by we shall see thee 
as thou art and be like thee. Having this 
hope, may we purify ourselves even as 
thou art pure, and so prepare ourselves 
to dwell with thee in glory and enjoy the 
holy activities and pure pleasures of the 

96 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

heavenly home and the blessed compan- 
ionship of the redeemed forever. Amen. 

XVIII. Psalm 91. 

Merciful Giver and Sustainer of all 
life, we need thee every day and hour; 
for we are dependent upon thee even as 
new-born babes are dependent upon 
fatherly and motherly care. And we come 
to thee now with thankful hearts, rejoic- 
ing in the assurance that, notwithstanding 
our unworthiness — ^which we penitently 
confess and implore thee to forgive — ^we 
shall be watched over and cared for by 
thee with more than any earthly father's 
wisdom and more than any earthly moth- 
er's love. 

We bless, thee, our Father, that thou 
dost invite us to draw near unto thee, 
and abide under thy shadow, and find 
such shelter beneath thy protecting wings 
that we need not be afraid for the pesti- 
lence that walketh in darkness nor for the 
destruction that wasteth at noonday. We 
bless thee that thou dost give thine angels 
charge over thy children to keep them in 
all their ways, so that no real evil shall 
befall them, and that the seeming evils 

97 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

that may come to them shall prove to be 
divine blessings. 

Grant unto ns thine enabling grace, our 
Father, that we may confide- in thee more 
fully, walk humbly with thee day by day, 
dwell in the secret place of the Most 
High, and find rest in thee through all the 
trials of this present life; and when we 
pass hence into the life beyond, may we 
be welcomed by thee as thy children, 
brought back from all their wanderings 
to their Father, their home, and their 
eternal rest, through Jesus Christ, our 
Lord. Amen. 

XIX. Luke 14:7-11; John 13:4-17. 

Divine Love, ever brooding over the 
universe and bringing forth truth, beauty, 
and goodness, come into our hearts and 
abide in us, that we may be meek and 
lowly and loving like the blessed Christ 
who manifested thee in the flesh. Taught 
by him, may we not claim for ourselves 
the highest places and greatest honors, 
but contentedly serve thee in lowly ways 
until thou, in thine own good time, shalt 
call us up higher. Mav we have the 
genuine humility of Him who came not to 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

be ministered iinto, but to minister, and 
who stooped even to the washing of the 
feet of his disciples in service. Help us 
to draw near unto thee, our Father, so 
that thy divine love may shine full upon 
us, and kindle in our hearts an answering 
love so deep and warm and strong that 
all self-exaltation — every selfish thought 
and desire — ^will be lost in it as a feebly 
glimmering star is lost in the splendor of 
the noonday sun. 

Grant unto us, most merciful Father, 
such Christlike humbleness — such loss of 
self in love — as will deliver us from the 
bondage of selfish appetites and passions^ 
free us from envy and jealousy and all 
that tendeth to strife, relieve our hearts 
from all wearing anxieties, banish from 
our minds all the blinding influences of 
pride, self-conceit, and self-interest, and 
exalt us by making us more like thee and 
better fitted to dwell in the brightness of 
thy glory and enjoy the delights of thy 
presence forever. Amen. 

XX. Acts 17:22-31; John 14:1-10. 

Lord of heaven and earth, maker of 
the world and all things therein, we thank 

99 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

thee that, when men were ignorantly wor- 
shiping thee and gropingly seeking thee, 
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, re- 
vealed thee as an infinitely loving Father 
in whom dwells all that mind can ask, or 
heart desire, or imagination picture of 
^^ wonderful, or wise, or beautiful," and 
with whom we may come into loving ac- 
cord and have all our deathless longings 
satisfied and our souls filled with ^^ peace 
as a river, and righteousness as the waves 
of the sea." 

Father of the Christ in whom thou 
didst incarnate thyself, and our Father, 
all our hope is in thee. Only as we live 
in obedience to thy holy Avill and come 
into spiritual oneness with thee can our 
troubled hearts become contented. It is 
not merely because we are weak and help- 
less that we need thee. Innumerable crea- 
tures in thy universe that are weaker than 
we are need thee far less than we do. Had 
we no spark of the divine within us, less 
than thy divine self might satisfy us ; but 
since thou hast made us in thine own image 
and breathed into us some measure of 
thine own Divine Spirit, nothing less than 
thee, our divine Father, ^^suflficeth us." 

100 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

Help uSy then, we entreat thee, to wean 
onr desires and affections from the vain 
things of this present world, and become 
ever purer in heart and more godly in 
life until we shall be perfect even as thou 
art perfect, and find ^^ peace upon peace, 
like wave on wave," in union with thee 
through Christ. Amen. 

XXL Ps. 31:19-24; Isa. 63:7-9; Eph. 
2:1-7. 

Lord God, maker of heaven and earth, 
thou art Love, and all thy works declare 
thy lovingkindness. All beautiful sights 
are thy goodness made visible, and all 
melodious sounds are thy benevolence 
made audible. Thy gracious Spirit is dis- 
closed in all human virtue and loveliness, 
and in all the joy and gladness welling up 
in human hearts. Even in the dark and 
sorrowful events of human life, thy love 
is dominant ; for as thy Spirit moved upon 
the face of the waters in the beginning, 
and brought light and life and order and 
beauty out of the dark and formless chaos, 
so thou hast moved through all the strife 
and suffering of our race, working out 
the ^^ steady gain of man.'' But above all 

101 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

other manifestations of thy goodness is 
the gift of thy Son, who came to dwell 
with us, and suffer with us, and become 
obedient unto death on the cross to recon- 
cile us to thee. The love that thus stooped 
to bear our griefs, and carry our sorrows, 
and suffer death that we might have life, 
passeth thought. 

We know, Lord, that such love de- 
mands our most fervent gratitude, and 
the most self-sacrificing devotion in thy 
service; and when we think of how far 
short of this we have come- — ^when we call 
to mind our indifference, ingratitude, self- 
ishness, and sinfulness — ^we bow our heads 
in sorrow and shame. But we lift up our 
souls unto thee, the Father whose love 
never wearies, whose mercy endureth for- 
ever, and who with sublime patience and 
forbearance waits for our home-coming, 
and pray that thou wilt graciously forgive 
us, and help us to become more like thee, 
that we may be delivered from the con- 
demnation of our hearts and have sweeter 
fellowship with thee. 

Dear Lord, we long for thee. In thee 
alone can we find the deathless beauty, the 
quenchless glory, and the everlasting joy 

102 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

which we sometimes glimpse in our 
brightest dreams. Our souls thirst for 
thee; and we pray that, even though it 
must be through the tortures of cruci- 
fixion, thou wilt make us wholly thine, so 
that ^Hhe melodies of the everlasting 
chime" will abide in our hearts through 
all the discords of this present world, and 
we shall be prepared to join the heavenly 
choir and harmoniously hymn thy praise 
in the world without end. Amen. 

XXII. Rom. 5: Ml; Heb. 6:7-12. 

Holy Father, whose chosen way of 
manifesting thyself to thy children is by 
the discipline of trial and pain, we rejoice 
that we can turn to thee in the midst of 
great anxiety, and commit all our troubles 
to thy sure help. As thou art with us in 
the sunlight, oh, be thou with us in the 
cloud. In the path by which thou guidest 
us, though it be through desert and 
stormy sea, suffer not our faith to fail^ 
but sustain us by thy near presence, and 
let the comforts which are in Jesus Christ 
fill our hearts with peace. And, God^ 
grant that the fiery trial which trieth us 
may not be in vain, but may lead us to a 

103 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

cheerful courage, and a holy patience; 
and let patience have her perfect work, 
that we may be perfect and entire, want- 
ing nothing, wholly consecrate to thee, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — 
Henry W. Foote, 

XXIIL Rom. 12 : 1-3, 9-21. 

Lord, give thy blessing, we pray 
thee, to our daily work, that we may do it 
in faith and heartily, as to the Lord and 
not unto men. All our powers of body 
and mind are thine, and we would fain 
devote them to thy service. Sanctify 
them, and the work in which they are 
engaged; let us not be slothful, but fer- 
vent in spirit; and do thou, Lord, so 
bless our efforts that they may bring 
forth in us the fruits of true wisdom. 
Teach us to seek after truth and enable 
us to gain it; but grant that we may ever 
speak the truth in love; that, while we 
know earthly things, we may know thee, 
and be known by thee, through and in thy 
Son Jesus Christ. Give us this day thy 
Holy Spirit, that we may be thine in 
body and spirit in all our work and all 
our refreshments, through Jesus Christ 

104 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

thy Son, our Lord. Amen. — Thomas 
Arnold. 

XXIV. Col. 1:3-13, 19-27. 

Almighty and most merciful Father, 
in whom we live and move and have our 
being, to whose tender compassion we owe 
our safety in days past, together with the 
hopes of that which is to come, we praise 
thee, God, our Creator ; unto thee do we 
give thanks, God, our exceeding Joy, 
who daily pourest thy benefits upon us. 
Grant, we beseech thee, that Jesus our 
Lord, the Hope of glory, may be formed 
in us, in all humility, meekness, patience, 
contentedness, and absolute surrender of 
our souls and bodies to thy holy will and 
pleasure. Leave us not, nor forsake us, 
O Father, but conduct us safe through all 
changes of our condition here, in an un- 
changeable love to thee, and in holy tran- 
quility of mind in thy love to us, till we 
come to dwell with thee, and rejoice in 
thee forever. Amen. — Simon PatricJc. 

XXV. Ps. 25:8-15; 36:5-10. 

God, by whom the meek are guided 
in judgment, and light riseth up in dark- 

105 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

ness for the godly, grant us, in all our 
doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask 
what thou Avouldest have us to do; that 
the spirit of wisdom may save us from all 
false choices, and that in thy light we may 
see light, and in thy straight path may 
not stumble, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. — William Bright. 

XXVL 1 John 4:16-21; Phil. 1:9-11. 

O God, perfect us in love, that we may 
conquer all selfishness and hatred of 
others; fill 'our hearts with thy joy, and 
shed abroad in them thy peace which 
passeth understanding ; that so those mur- 
murings and disputings to which we are 
too prone may be overcome. Make us 
longsuffering and gentle, and thus subdue 
our hastiness and angry tempers, and 
grant that we may bring forth the blessed 
fruits of the Spirit, to thy praise and 
glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. — Henry Alford. 

XXVIL John 17:1-8; Jude, vs. 17-21. 

Lord, give us hearts never to forget 
thy love; but to dwell therein whatever 
we do, whether we sleep or wake, live or 

106 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

die, or rise again to the life that is to 
come. For thy love is eternal life and 
everlasting rest; for this is life eternal — 
to know thee and thine infinite goodness. 
Oh, let its flame never be quenched in our 
hearts; let it grow and brighten, till our 
Avhole souls are glowing and shining with 
its light and warmth. Be thou our Joy 
and Hope, our Strength and Life, our 
Shield and Shepherd, our Portion for- 
ever. For happy are we if we continue 
in the love wherewith thou hast loved us ; 
holy are we when we love thee steadfastly. 
Therefore, thou whose name and es- 
sence is Love, enkindle our hearts, en- 
lighten our understandings, sanctify our 
wills, and fill all the thoughts of our 
hearts, for Jesus Christ ^s sake. Amen. — 
Johann Arndt. 

XXVIIL John 13:34, 35; 1 John 2:8-11; 
3:14-17. 

God of love, who hast given a new 
commandment, through thine only begot- 
ten Son, that we should love one another, 
even as thou didst love us, the unworthy 
and the wandering, and gavest thy be- 
loved Son for our life and salvation; we 

107 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

pray thee, Lord, give to ns, thy servants, 
in all time of our life on the earth, a mind 
forgetful of past ill will, a pure conscience 
and sincere thoughts, and a heart to love 
our brethren. Amen. — Coptic Liturgy of 
St. Cyril. 

XXIX. Deut. 10:12-21; Matt. 22:34-40. 

Lord, grant to us so to love thee 
\nth all our heart, with all our mind, and 
all our soul, and our neighbor for thy 
sake, that the grace of charity and broth- 
erly love may dwell in us, and all envy, 
harshness, and ill will may die in us ; and 
fill our hearts with feelings of love, kind- 
ness, and compassion, so that, by con- 
stantly rej'oicing in the happiness and 
good success of others, by sympathizing 
with them in their sorrows, and putting 
away all harsh judgments and envious 
thoughts, we may follow thee, who art 
thyself the true and perfect Love. Amen. 
— Treasury of Devotion. 

XXX. John 1:1-14; 8:12-16. 

Our Father, unto thee, in the light of 
our Saviour's blessed life, we would lift 
up our souls. We thank thee for that true 

108 



THE FAMILY WORSHIP 

Light shining in our world with still in- 
creasing brightness. We thank thee for 
all who have walked therein, and especial- 
ly for those near to us and dear, in whose 
lives we have seen this excellent glory and 
beauty. May we know that in the body 
and out of the body they are with thee^ 
and that when these earthly days come to 
an end, it is not that our service of thee 
and of one another may cease, but that it 
may begin anew. Make us glad in all who 
have faithfully lived; make us glad in all 
who have peacefully died. Lift us into 
light and love and purity and blessedness, 
and give us at last our portion with those 
who have trusted in thee and sought, in 
small things as in great, in things tem- 
poral and things eternal, to do thy holy 
will. Amen. — Rufus Ellis. 

XXXL Ps. 84:11, 12; Isa. 60:18-20; Eev. 
21 : 23-27. 

Thou who art the true sun of the 
world, evermore rising, and never going 
do"\\Ti; who, by thy most wholesome ap- 
pearing and sight, dost nourish and make 
joyful all things, as well that are in 
heaven, as also that are on earth — ^we 

109 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

beseech thee mercifully and favorably to 
shine into our hearts, that the night and 
darkness of sin, and the mists of error 
on every side, being driven away, thou 
brightly shining within our hearts, we 
may all our life long go without any 
stumbling or offense, and walk as in the 
daytime, being pure and clean from the 
works of darkness, and abounding in all 
good works which thou hast prepared for 
us to walk in. Amen. — Erasmus. 



110 



VIII 

THE GOLDEN THREAD 

DAILY BIBLE KEADIIlTGS FOB A YEAR. 

Indebtedness to Dr. B. A. Abbott for 
the following Bible readings is gratefully 
acknowledged. They were arranged by 
him for the Bible Readers' League of his 
congregation, and he has kindly permitted 
the use of them in this book. 

JANUABY. 

January 1. — God Made the "World 
(Gen. 1:1-25). Through Christ (Col. 1: 
14-17). 

January 2. — The Origin, Nature, and 
Destiny of Man (Gen. 1:26 to 2:3; 1 
John 3: 1-3). 

January 3. — Man's First Home — God's 
Purpose Toward Man (Gen. 2:7-25; John 
14:1-3). 

January 4. — Man's Fall and Rise 
Again (Gen. 3:17-24; Rom. 3:21-29). 
8 111 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

January 5. — What Were the Sin and 
Punishment of Cain? (Gen. 4: 3-15; 1 John 
3:10-12). 

January 6. — The Condition that In- 
vites Destruction, and the Way Out (Gen. 
6:1-13; 1 Pet. 3:18-22). 

January 7. — The Heart of God (Gen. 
8:1-22; 1 Tim. 2:3-6). 

January 8. — God's Covenant with 
Noah and Us (Gen. 9: 8-17; Rev. 4:1-4). 

January 9.- — Babel and Pentecost. 
Why? (Gen. 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-11). 

Januar\^ 10. — Abraham's Call. Why? 
(Gen. 12:i-9; Heb. 11:8-10). 

January 11. — The Unselfishness of 
Abraham." Did It Pay? (Gen. 13; Matt. 
5:9). 

January" 12. — Abraham's Intercessory 
Prayer (Gen. 18:22-33; Acts 12:5; Jas. 
5:16). 

January 13. — Did Lot's Choice Pay? 
(Gen. 19:12-29; 2 Pet. 2:6-9). 

January 14. — The Comforting God 
(Gen. 21:8-21; 2 Cor. 1:3). 

January 15. — ^What Did God Mean? 
(Gen. 22:1-19; Rom. 8:32). 

January 16. — Lights and Shadows of 
Isaac's Life (Gen. 26:12-25; Matt. 5:5). 

112 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

January 17. — The Ladder of Life 
(Gen. 28:10-22; John 1:51). 

January 18. — Jacob Meeting Effects 
of His Past (Gen. 32:1-11; Matt. 5: 
21-26). 

January 19. — Facing a Great Crisis 
(Gen. 32:13-32; 2 Tim. 4:6-8). 

January 20. — Eeoonciliation After 
Twenty Years' Estrangement (Gen. 33; 
Matt. 6:14, 15). 

January 21. — Joseph the Beloved (Gen. 
37:1-11; Col. 3:20, 21). 

January 22. — Joseph the Hated (Gen. 
37:12-28; 1 John 2:10, 11). 

January 23. — The Grief of a Father 
(Gen. 37:29-36; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). 

January 24. — The Nobility of Joseph 
(Gen. 39; Phil. 4:8). 

January 25. — Forgotten in Prison 
(Gen. 40; Heb. 13:3). 

January 26. — Joseph Delivered and 
Exalted (Gen. 41:1-15, 25-45; Eom. 8: 
28). 

January 27. — Joseph, the Savior of 
Egypt (Gen. 41 : 46-57 ; Rom. 13 : 1-4). 

January 28. — Joseph's Brethren Unex- 
pectedly Come : Uncomfortable Memories 
(Gen. 42:1-24; Rom. 12:19-21). 

113 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

January 29. — A Noble Revenge and the 
Shadow of a Great Wrong (Gen. 42:25- 
38; 1 Pet. 2:8-12). 

January 30. — Joseph Receives His 
Brethren the Second Time (Gen. 43; Luke 
6:27, 28). 

January 31. — Benjamin's Arrest and 
Judah's Plea (Gen. 44; Philem. vs. 
8-20). 

FEBRUAKY. 

February 1. — Joseph Made Known to 
His Brethren (Gen. 45:1-20, 25-28). 

February 2. — Joseph's Father Goes to 
Egypt (Gen. 46:1-6, 28-34). 

February 3. — Joseph Provides for His 
Father (Gen. 47:1-12; 1 Tim. 5:8). 

Februar}^ 4. — The Sickness of Jacob: 
Memory, Love, Grief, Hope (Gen. 48:1- 
22; 2 Cor. 12:8-10). 

February 5. — '' Sunset and Evening 
Star" (Gen. 49; 50:1; Heb. 11:39, 40). 

Februai'y 6. — The Meaning of Dark 
Experiences (Gen. 50:20; Rom. 8:28). 

February 7. — The Birth and Training 
of Moses (Ex. 2; Matt. 2:13-15). 

February 8.— The Call of Moses (Ex. 
3:1-14; Heb. 11:23-29). 

114 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

February 9. — T h e Preparation of 
Moses (Ex. 4: 1-17; Matt. 10: 32, 33). 

February 10. — Pharaoh's Treatment of 
the Israelites (Ex. 5: 1-23; Jas. 5:1-6). 

February 11. — The Deliverance of 
the Israelites (Ex. 12:29-51; 1 Cor. 5: 
7, 8). ' 

February 12. — Divine Guidance and 
Care (Ex. 13:17-22; 14:13-15, 21-30;' 1 
Cor. 10:7). 

February 13. — The Song of Moses 
(Ex. 13:1-21; Eev. 15:3, 4). 

February 14. — Grod Appears to Moses 
and the Israelites at Sinai (Ex. 19; Heb. 
12:18-24). 

February 15. — God Gives the Ten Com- 
mandments (Ex. 20:1-21; Rom. 13:10). 

February 16. — Fickleness of the Israel- 
ites (Ex. 32:15-35; Heb. 3:7-11). 

February 17.— The Tent of Meeting 
and the Glory of God (Ex. 33: 7-23; John 
34:23, 24). 

February 18. — The Revelation of the 
Glory of God (Ex. 34: 1-9; 2 Cor. 4: 
5, 6). 

February 19. — ^Willing Offerings and 
Inspired Workers (Ex. 35:20-35; 2 Cor. 
9:6-9). 

115 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

February 20. — The Religious Value of 
''The Tent of Meeting" (Ex. 40:17-38; 
Matt. 18:18-20). 

February 21.— The Fatal Offering of 
Strange Fire (Lev. 10:1-11; Heb. 8: 
4, 5). 

February 22. — ^^If a Brother Be Waxed 
Poor'' (Lev. 25:35-46; Luke 3:11). 

February 23. — The Blessings of Obedi- 
ence (Lev. 26:1-13; Matt. 7:24-27). 

February 24. — Evils of Disobedience 
(Lev. 26:14-29; Col. 3:5-7). 

February 25.— ^^If Then Their Uncir- 
cumcised Heart Be Humbled" (Lev. 26: 
40-46; 1 John 1:5 to 2:2). 

February 26. — The March from Sinai 
(Num. 10:11-13, 29-36; Acts 2:43-47). 

February 27. — The Trials of Leaders 
(Num. 11:1-15, 31-35; 1 Cor. 10:10). 

February 28. — Evils of Prejudice and 
the Greatness of Love (Num. 12; 1 Cor. 
13:1-5). 

February 29. — The Spies and Their 
Report (Num. 13:17-33; Eev. 21:7, 8). 

MARCH. 

March 1. — An Intercessory Prayer of 
Moses (Num. 14:1-25; 1 John 5:14-17). 

116 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

March 2. — Murmuring in the Sight of 
God (Num. 14:26-38; Phil. 4:11-13). 

March 3. — Evils of Rashness (Num. 
14:39-45; Jas. 3:16-18). 

March 4. — Errors, Unwitting Sinning, 
and High-handed Sins (Num. 15:22-31; 
Rom. 6:1-7). 

March 5. — ^^ These Are the Waters of 
Meribah'' (Num. 20: 1-13; 2 Cor. 4: 16-18). 

March 6. — The Danger and Sin of Dis- 
couragement (Num. 21:4-9; Acts 13:13). 

March 7. — As It Is in Life — Journey- 
ing, Singing, Fighting (Num. 21:10-31; 
Phil. 4:4-7). 

March 8. — A Prophet's Temptation 
and Fall (Num. 22:1-20; Luke 12:15; 
Acts 20:33). 

March 9. — A Prophet's Fatal Perver- 
sity (Num. 22 : 24-41 ; Acts 26 : 19) . 

March 10. — A Prophet's Recovery and 
Prophecies (Num. 23; Rev. 22:17). 

March 11. — Third and Fourth Pr'ophe- 
cies of the Recovered Prophet (Num. 24; 
Acts 20:26, 27). 

March 12. — Satisfied with Less than 
the Best (Num. 32:6-27; Matt. 7:13, 14). 

March 13.— Cities of Refuge (Num. 35: 
9-34; Acts 2:38). 

117 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

March 14. — A Speech of Moses at 
Sinai (Deut. 1:5-18; Jas. 1:22-25). 

March 15. — Conserving and Transmit- 
ting God's Law (Deut. 4:1-14; 2 Pet. 1: 
14-16). 

March 16. — The Wonders of Revela- 
tion (Deut. 4:32-40; Rev. 1:12-19). 

March 17. — The Yearning of God over 
His People (Deut. 5:22-33; John 3:16). 

March 18.— ''Then Beware Lest Thou 
Forget Jehovah" (Deut. 6; 1 Cor. 11: 
23-26). 

March 19. — The Duty of Those upon 
Whom God Sets His Love (Deut. 7:6-16; 
Matt. 10:8). 

March 20. — The Background of Cour- 
age (Deut. 7:17-26; 1 Cor. 1:26-29). 

March 21.— ''If There Be Poor with 
Thee" (Deut. 15:1-11; Jas. 2:1-6). 

March 22. — The Uncompromised Life 
and the Promised Prophet (Deut. 18:9- 
20; Acts 3:22-26). 

March 23.— "Life and Good, and Death 
and Evil" (Deut. 30:11-20; Rom. 6:23). 

March 24. — Moses Selects His Succes- 
sor (Deut. 31:1-13; Luke 6:13-19). 

March 25. — God's Charge to Joshua 
(Deut. 31:14-30; Matt. 10:5-10). 

118 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

March 26. — The Song Moses Taught 
Israel (Deut. 32:1-20; Col. 3:16). 

March 27. — The Song Moses Taught 
Israel (continued) (Deut. 32:21-43). 

March 28. — The Last Charge of Moses 
(Deut. 32:44-52; 2 Tim. 4:1-5). 

March 29. — The Benediction of Moses 
(Deut. 33:1-16; Acts 20:36-38). 

March 30. — The Benediction of Moses 
(continued) (Deut. 33:17-29; Luke 24: 
50-52). 

March 31.— The Death of Moses (Deut. 
34; Jude v. 9; Luke 9: 30, 31). 

APRIL. 

April 1. — Men (rod Calls to Lead 
(Josh. 1:1-9; 1 Cor. 16:13). 

April 2. — ''Jehovah Will Do Wonders 
Amongst You" (Josh. 3:5-17; John 14: 
12-14). 

April 3. — ^What Weakens Causes 
and Character (Josh. 7:8-26; Luke 12: 
15). 

April 4. — The Victories of Joshua 
(Josh. 11:15-23; Eph. 6:10-18). 

April 5. — The Meaning and Conditions 
of God's Blessings (Josh. 23; Matt. 7: 
24-27). 

119 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

April 6. — Farewell Address of Joshua 
and the Choice of the People (Josh. 24: 
1-18; Matt. 10:34-39). 

April 7. — Perverseness and God's Dis- 
cipline and Guide (Judg. 2:11-23; Matt. 
10:11-15). 

April 8. — Not Numbers, but Faith, 
Effective (Judg. 7:1-8; Matt. 18:18- 
20). 

April 9. — God and a Man Invincible 
(Judg. 7:9-23; 2 Tim. 4:16-18). 

April 10.^ — The Consolations of Friend- 
ship (Euth 1; John 15:11-15). 

April 11. — The Right Ambition for 
Children (1 Sam. 1:21-27; Mark 10:13- 
16). 

April 12. — The Vision of Samuel (1 
Sam. 3:1-18; Col. 3:25). 

April 13. — The Cost of False living 
(1 Sam. 4:5-18; Lnke 13:1-5). 

April 14. — The Life and Work of Sam- 
uel (1 Sam. 7; Lnke 19:16-18). 

April 15. — A Great Opportunity (1 
Sam. 10:9-27; Luke 14:10, 11). 

April 16. — An Ideal Judge (1 Sam. 12: 
1-5, 19-25; Col. 1:9-12). 

April 17. — Saul's Failure as King (1 
Sam. 15:22-31; Matt. 7:21-23). 

120 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

April 18. — The Discovery of Saul's Suc- 
cessor (1 Sam. 16:1-13; 1 Cor. 1:26-30). 

April 19. — The Power of Faith and 
Courage (1 Sam. 17: 31-50; Acts 5: 25-29). 

April 20.— The Evils of Jealousy (1 
Sam. 18:1-16; Luke 15:25-32). 

April 21. — A Great Friendship (1 Sam. 
20:17-42; Rev. 2:17). 

April 22. — How to Treat an Enemy 
(1 Sam. 24; Bom. 12:19-21). 

April 23.— The Death of Saul (1 Sam. 
31; Acts 1:18-20). 

April 24.— The Sacredness of Life (2 
Sam. 1 : 1-16 ; John 19 : 31-34) . 

April 25. — David's Elegy (2 Sam. 1: 
17-27). Contrast Rev. 14:13. 

April 26. — The Presence that Blesses 
(2 Sam. 6 : 1-15 ; 1 Cor. 10 : 16, 17) . 

April 27.— The Good Thoughts We Can 
Never Carry Out (2 Sam. 7: 1-17; 1 Kings 
8:17-19; Rom. 15:28, 29). 

April 28.— David's Darkest Hour (2 
Sam. 12:1-10; Heb. 7:25). 

April 29. — Bereavement and Its Miti- 
gations (2 Sam. 12:15-23; 1 Thess. 4:13- 
17). 

April 30. — Ambitions that Destroy (2 
Sam. 15:1-12; 18:14-18; Luke 14:11). 

121 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

MAY. 

May 1. — Who Can Make the Deepest 
Wounds? (2 Sam. 18:19-33; Luke 22:54- 
62). 

May 2.— Life and God (2 Sam. 22:1- 
33; Luke 12:19-21). 

May 3. — Swan Songs of Great Souls 
(2 Sam. 23:1-7; 2 Tim. 4:6-8). 

May 4. — A Dream of Life (1 Kings 3: 
4-15; Matt. 6:31-34). 

May 5. — Solomon's Prayer (1 Kings 
8:22-53; John 15:7). 

May 6. — Conditions of Perpetual Peace 
and Prosperity (2 Chron. 7:11-22; 1 Pet. 
3:8-12). 

May 7. — The Glory of Solomon and 
True Glory (1 Kings 10:1-29; Matt. 6: 
28, 29). 

May 8. — What Ruins Men and Rulers 
(1 Kings 12:1-15; 3 John vs. 9-11). 

May 9.— The True Sources of Life (1 
Kings 17:1-16; John 4:10-15). 

May 10. — Selecting a God (1 Kings 18: 
20-40; Acts 17:22-28). 

May 11. — Despondency : Its Causes and 
Its Cure (1 Kings 19:1-16; Acts 27:20- 
26). 

122 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

May 12. — **Take Heed, and Beware of 
Covetousness " (1 Kings 21:1-16; 1 Tim. 
6:6-10). 

May 13.— The Translation of Elijah— 
the Call of Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-14; Heb. 
11:5).' 

May 14. — Need, Pride, Humility, Obe- 
dience, Healing, Vision (2 Kings 5:1-15; 
Acts 9:17-19). 

May 15. — Our Unseen Helpers (2 
Kings 6:8-23; Acts 7:55, 56). 

May 16.— The Need for Intensity (2 
Kings 13:14-20; Heb. 12:1-5). 

May 17.— How Long Will You Live? 
(2 Kings 20; Luke 13:6-9). 

May 18. — The Babylonian Captivity 
and Its Lessons (2 Kings 24:10-20; Acts 
3:19-21). 

May 19. — A Great Euler and His Func- 
tion (2 Chron. 26:1-15; Rom. 15:3). 

May 20.— A Great Ruler's Fatal Mis- 
take (2 Chron. 26:16-23; Heb. 12:28, 29). 

May 21. — A voiding Compromises 
(Ezra 4 : 1-6 ; 2 Cor. 6 : 14-18) . 

May 22. — Daring to Live Up to One's 
Faith "(Ezra 8: 15-31 ; Acts 21 : 10-14). 

May 23. — The Spirit that Overcomes 
Difficulties (Neh. 4:6-23; 1 John 5:4, 5). 

123 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

May 24.— "Should Such a Man as I 
Flee!" The Glory of Courage (Neh. 6; 
Matt. 10:27-33). 

May 25. — ''The Gracious and Merciful, 
the Great, the Mighty, the Terrible God" 
(Neh. 9:30-38; Eph. 1:3, 4). 

May 26.— A Great Risk for a Great 
Cause (Esth. 4; Rom. 16: 3, 4). 

May 27.— The Strength of a Good Man 
(Job 1; 1 Pet. 5:12-19). 

May 28.— The Patience of a Good Man 
(Job 2; Jas. 5:7-11). 

May 29.— Man's Greatest Battle (Job 
7; Rom. 7:21-25). 

May 30. — The Righteous Man Has No 
Fear of God (Job 13:1-19; Rev. 22:3-5). 

May 31.— The View of Life Before 
Christ, and Since (Job 14; Phil. 1:21-26). 

JUNE. 

June 1. — The Happy Life (Ps. 1 ; Matt. 
5:3-12). 

June 2. — Begin and End the Day with 
God (Ps. 3 and 4; Mark 1 : 32-35). 

June 3. — A Song for the Troubled (Ps. 
6; John 14:1-3). 

June 4. — The Glory of God and the 
Greatness of Man (Ps. 8; Rev. 22: 8, 9). 

124 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

June 5.- — Foundations that Can Not Be 
Removed (Ps. 11; 1 Cor. 3:10-15). 

June 6. — The Psalm of the Good Citi- 
zen (Ps. 15; 1 Pet. 2:13-17). 

June 7. — The Path of Life and the 
Guide to the Way (Ps. 16; John 14: 
3-6). 

June 8. — A Song of Recompenses (Ps. 
18:19-36; Mark 10:29-31). 

June 9. — God in Nature and in the 
Soul (Ps. 19; Col. 1:26-29). 

June 10. — The Psalm of Beautiful 
Prayers (Ps. 20; 2 Thess. 1:11). 

June 11. — David's Psalm of Life and 
Ours (Ps. 23; John 10:11). 

June 12. — A Psalm for the Timid and 
Lonely (Ps. 27; Matt. 28:16-20). 

June 13. — The Song of the Penitent 
Heart (Ps. 32; Matt. 1:21). 

June 14. — A Psalm, for the Fretting 
(Ps. 37; Luke 10:41, 42). 

June 15. — The Song of the Shut-in 
(Ps. 42; 1 Pet. 5:6, 7). 

June 16. — The Battle-hymn of the Ref- 
ormation (Ps. 46: Acts 4:23-31). 

June 17. — A Psalm for the Penitent 
Sinner, Conscience-stricken and Broken, 
in Spirit (Ps. 51; Heb. 12:11-13). 

125 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

June 18,— The Blight of the Withered 
Heart (Ps. 14 and 53; Rom. 10:9, 10). 

June 19. — ''Make His Praise Glori- 
ous" (Ps. 66; Rev. 5:11-14). 

June 20.— The Ideal Ruler (Ps. 72; 
John 3:1, 2). 

June 21. — The Goodness of God and 
the Inequalities of Life (Ps. 73; 1 Pet. 4: 
12-14). 

June 22.— The Delights of God's House 
(Ps. 84; Mark 11:15-18). 

June 23. — Moses' Psalm of Life (Ps. 
90; Heb. 13:8). 

June 24.— "The Secret of the Most 
High" (Ps. 91; Rev. 2:17). 

June 25.— Who Is God? (Ps. 103; Matt. 
22:32). 

June 26.— The Law of God (Ps. 119: 
97-112 — read the whole Psalm; Matt. 
24:35). 

June 27. — The Traveler's Psalm (Ps. 
121; Heb. 12:1, 2). 

June 28.— Tears and Joy (Ps. 126; 
Gal. 6:9). 

June 29.— "Out of the Depths" (Ps. 
130; Acts 2:37, 38). 

June 30.— Where Is God? (Ps. 139; 
Acts 17:27, 28). 

126 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

JULT. 

July 1.— God, Father, Mother (Prov. 
1:7-10; Eph. 6:1-4). 

July 2. — The Principal Thing (Prov. 
4:5-9; 1 Cor. 1:30, 31). 

July 3.— ''A Soft Answer" (Prov. 15: 
3-4; Jas. 1:26, 27). 

July 4.— The Best Wealth (Prov. 22: 
1-4; Luke 12:21). 

July 5. — One of Earth's Greatest Woes 
(Prov. 23:29-35; 1 Cor. 6:10). 

July 6.— The Most Valuable Man 
(Eccl. 9:13-18; Matt. 10:29-31). 

July 7. — The Greatest Opportunity of 
Youth (Eccl. 12:1-7; Matt. 19:16-22). 

July 8. — True Worship and Religion 
(Isa. 1:12-17; Jas. 1:27). 

July 9. — A Vision of God's Universal 
Reign (Isa. 2; Matt. 28: 18-20; Rev. 21). 

July 10. — Cost of the Ignorance of 
God's Will (Isa. 5: 13-17; John 17: 3). 

July 11.— The Vision of God (Isa. 6; 
Matt. 5:8; 1 John 3:2). 

July 12. — The Curse of Superstition 
(Isa. 8:19-22; Eph. 5:11, 12). 

July 13. — The Prince of Peace (Isa. 9: 
6, 7; Luke 2: 14). 

9 127 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

July 14.— The Land of No Hurts (Isa. 
11:6-10; Mark 1:14, 15). 

July 15.— The Manly Man (Isa. 32:1- 
8; Philem. vs. 18-20). 

July 16. — "Sorrow and Sighing Shall 
Flee Away" (Isa. 35:5-10; Eev. 21: 
3-5). 

July 17.— Thoughts of the Sick (Isa. 
38:9-20; Jas. 5:13-16). 

July 18.— The Comfort of God (Isa. 
40:1-11; Matt. 11:28-30). 

July 19. — The Greatness of God (Isa. 
40:18-26; Rev. 4). 

July 20.— "He Increaseth Strength'* 
(Isa. 40:27-30; 2 Cor. 12:9, 10). 

July 21.— The Love of God (Isa. 43: 
1-7; John 3:16). 

July 22. — The Preacher of the Gospel 
(Isa. 52:7-10; Rom. 10:12-15). 

July 23.— The Sorrows of the "Man 
of Sorrows" (Isa. 53:3-9; Matt. 27:27- 
31). 

July 24. — A Thornless World (Isa. 55: 
10-13; Rev. 22:3, 4). 

July 25. — The Expression of the Spirit 
of the Lord (Isa. 61 : 1-3 ; Luke 4 : 16-22). 

July 26.— The Joy in God (Isa. 61:10, 
11; Matt. 25:22, 23). 

128 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

July 27.— Our Helper (Isa. 63:1-6; 
Heb. 4:14-16). 

July 28. — Tbe Lovingkindness of Jeho- 
vah (Isa. 63: 7-9; John 3: 16). 

July 29.— The Fatherhood of God (Isa. 
63 : 15-19 ; 64 : 8-12 ; Matt. 6 : 32) . 

July 30. — ''God a Consuming Fire" 
(Isa. 64:1-7; Heb. 12:28, 29). 

July 31.— The Glory of God for All 
Nations (Isa. 66 : 18-21 ; Eev. 15 : 3, 4). 

AUGUST. 

August 1. — Searching for a Man (Jer. 
5:1-6; Matt. 5:13-16). 

August 2. — A Wonderful and Horrible 
Thing (Jer. 5:30, 31; Gal. 1: 6-10). 

August 3.— The Old Paths (Jer. 6:16- 
19; Acts 4:12). 

August 4. — Neglected Opportunities 
(Jer. 8 : 18-22 ; Matt. 25 : 1-13) . 

August 5. — Society without Religion 
(Jer. 9:1-5; Jude vs. 10-13). 

August 6. — The Human Heart and Its 
Need (Jer. 17:9-11; Acts 8:21-24). 

August 7. — Broken Lives Made Over 
(Jer. 18:1-4; Gal. 6:1-5). 

August 8. — How to Know and Possess 
God (Jer. 24:6, 7; John 14:8, 9). 

129 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

August 9. — Punishment and Correction 
(Jer. 30:10, 11; Heb. 12:5-11). 

August 10. — The New Covenant (Jer. 
31:29-34; Heb. 8:7-12). 

August 11. — Principles that Make Per- 
manent (Jer. 35:12-19; Matt. 7:24-27). 

August 12. — Futility and Sin of Try- 
ing to Destroy God's Word (Jer. 36:27- 
32; Matt. 24:35). 

August 13. — Promises Made in Ex- 
tremity (Jer. 42:1-6; John 7:16, 17). 

August 14. — The Treatment of Prom- 
ises Made in Extremity (Jer. 42:7-22; 
John 14:23). 

August 15. — Result of Resistance to 
God (Jer. 48:42-44; Acts 5:34-39). 

August 16. — Faces Toward the Light 
(Jer. 50:4, 5; Acts 2:25-28). 

August 17. — '^Israel Is Not Forsaken^' 
(Jer. 51:5-10; Matt. 27:37-44). 

August 18. — The Duty of Caring (Lam. 
1:12-16; Rom. 12:15). 

August 19. — New Mercies Daily (Lam. 
3:22-27; Luke 11:3). 

August 20. — Incredible Things (Lam. 
4:12, 13; Mark 13:1, 2). 

August 21. — Visions and Environment 
(Ezek. 1:1-3; Rev. 1:9-11). 

130 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

August 22. — Self-respect the Condition 
of Inspiration (Ezek. 2; Rev. 1:17-20; 
22:8, 9). 

August 23. — Delivering Others Deliv- 
ers One's Own Soul (Ezek. 4:16-21; 1 
Tim. 4:16). 

August 24. — The Presence that Is a 
Sanctuary (Ezek. 11:16, 17; Rev. 21:23). 

August 25. — The Meaning of the Cap- 
tivity (Ezek. 17:11-24; Col. 3:25). 

August 26. — Personal Responsibility 
(Ezek. 18: 1-3, 19-24; Gal. 6:4, 5). 

August 27.— The Fairness of God 
(Ezek. 18:25-32; Matt. 20:13-16). 

August 28. — Life's Hidden Sorrows 
(Ezek. 24:15-18; 2 Cor. 12:7-9). 

August 29. — Man Not Saved by His 
Own Righteousness (Ezek. 33 : 10-16 ; Eph. 
2:8-10). 

August 30. — ^Resurrection by Regener- 
ation (Ezek. 37: 1-14; John 5: 24-27). 

August 31. — Punishment for a Little 
While, Love Forevermore (Ezek. 39:21, 
29; Heb. 12:7-13). 

SEPTEMBER. 

September 1. — Results of Loyalty "to 
Conviction (Dan. 1 : 8-20; Matt. 10 : 32,33). 

131 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

September 2. — Kingdom of Heaven 
(Dan. 2:44, 45; Eev. 11:15-19). 

September 3. — The Punishment of 
Vanity (Dan. 4: 30-37; Rom. 12: 3). 

September 4. — ^Weighed and Wanting 
(Dan. 5:22-30; Matt. 5:20). 

September 5. — The Splendors of the 
Righteous (Dan. 12:1-4; Matt. 13:41-43; 
2 Cor. 4:6). 

September 6. — A Fatal Lack (Hos. 4: 
6-9; Rom. 1:28). 

September 7. — Morning Faces (Hos. 
6:1-3; Acts 6:15; 2 Cor. 3:7). 

September 8. — Short-lived Goodness 
(Hos. 6:4-6; Matt. 13:20, 21). 

September 9. — Freshness of the 
Spiritual Life (Hos. 14:4-9; Acts 3: 
19-21). 

September 10. — The Larger Forgive- 
ness (Joel 2:21-27; Luke 15:20-24). 

September 11. — The Universal Inspira- 
tion (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:1-4, 16). 

September 12. — Acceptable and Non- 
acceptable Worship (Amos 5:21-27; John 
4:23, 24). 

September 13. — The Great Sin of TJn- 
brotherliness (Obad. vs. 10-14; 1 John 3: 
17). 

132 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

September 14. — Running Away from 
Duty is Eunning into Trouble (Jonah 1: 
1-17; Luke 12:47,48). 

September 15. — The Power of Preach- 
ing (Jonah 3; 1 Cor. 1:21). 

September 16. — The Hardness of Men 
and the Tenderness of God (Jonah 4; 
Luke 15:28-32). 

September 17. — A Vision of Peace 
and Security (Mie. 4:2-5; Rev. 21: 
23-27). 

September 18. — A Prophecy and Its 
Fulfillment (Mic. 4:1, 2; Matt. 2:1-6). 

September 19. — ^What God Requires 
(Mic. 6:6-8; Matt. 25 : 34-40) . 

September 20. — The God with Whom 
We Have to Do (Nah. 1:3-10; John 4: 
16). 

September 21. — ^^Woe unto Him'' 
(Hab. 2: 12-17; Matt. 23: 13-39). 

September 22. — F a i t h Trramphant 
(Hab. 3: 17-19; Acts 20: 22-24). 

September 23. — Evils of Disbelieving 
that God Has Part in Human Affairs 
(Zeph. 1 : 8-13 ; Matt. 27 : 42-44) . 

September 24. — There Is a Glory that 
Always Grows Greater (Hag. 2:3-9; 1 
John 3:1-3). 

133 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

September 25. — Good Words and Com- 
fortable Words (Zech. 1:12-17; Luke 7: 
47-50). 

September 26. — The Greatness of the 
Day of Small Things (Zech. 4: 6-10; Luke 
12:32). 

September 27.— "The City of Truth" 
(Zech. 8:3-8; Eev. 21:27). 

September 28. — The Attractiveness of 
True Spirituality (Zech. 8:18-23; Matt. 
5:16). 

September 29. — "Who Can Abide the 
Day of His Coming?" (Mai. 3:1-6; Matt. 
3:7-10). 

September 30. — God's Jewels (Mai. 3: 
16-18; Heb. 10:22-25). 

OCTOBEK. 

October 1. — The Foundation of the 
Gospels (Luke 1:1-4; John 21:24, 25; 2 
Pet. 1:16). 

October 2. — Christ Before the World 
Was (John 1:1-14). 

October 3.— The Birth of Christ (Luke 
2:1-7). 

October 4. — The Vision of the Shep- 
herds and the Song of Peace and Good 
Will (Luke 2:8-20). 

134 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

October 5. — The Adoration in the Tem- 
ple (Luke 2:21-39). 

October 6. — The Coming of the Wise 
Men (Matt. 2:1-12). 

October 7. — The Flight into Egypt 
(Matt. 2:13-23). 

October 8.— ''Thus It Becometh Us to 
Fulfill All Eighteousness" (Matt. 3:13- 
17). 

October 9. — "Tempted in All Points 
Like as We Are" (Matt. 4:1-11). 

October 10. — Speak to the Man Next 
. . . (John 1:35-51). 

October 11.— Jesus and the Joys of 
Life (John 2:1-12). 

October 12. — The Sin of Commercial- 
izing Worship (John 2: 13-25). 

October 13. — The Christian Life a New 
Life (John 3:1-7). 

October 14. — The Power that Creates 
the New Life (John 3:8-21). 

October 15. — The Worship Which is 
Acceptable to God (John 4:19-26). 

October 16. — The Program of Jesus 
(Luke 4: 16-22). 

October 17. — The Purifying Presence 
and the Abundant Blessing that Follows 
(Luke 5:1-9). 

135 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

October 18. — A Great Call and a 
Prompt Response (Mark 1:16-20). 

October 19. — The Prelude to a Success- 
ful Day (Mark 1:35-39). 

October 20. — Christian Life the Life 
Beatific (Matt. 5:1-12). 

October 21. — The Light the Christian 
Sheds (Matt. 5:13-16). 

October 22. — The Righteousness Christ 
Demands (Matt. 5:17-42). 

October 23. — The Love that Perfects 
Life (Matt. 5:43-48). 

October 24.— The True Motive of Re- 
ligion (Matt. 6:1-18). 

October 25.— The Life of Trust (Matt. 
6:19-34). 

October 26.— Practicing the Golden 
Rule (Matt. 7:. 1-12). 

October 27. — The Necessity of Sincere 
Obedience (Matt. 7:13-27). 

October 28. — Not Ashamed of Christ 
(Mark 2:13-17). 

October 29.— The Spirit of the Sabbath 
(the right use of the Lord's Day) (Matt. 
12:1-8). 

October 30. — Christ's Compassion 
Shown in His Treatment of "a. Broken 
Heed" (Luke 7:36-50). 

136 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

October 31.— The Rest We Find in 
Christ (Matt. 11:25-30). 

ISrOVEMBEE. 

November 1. — Hindrances in the Heart 
(Matt. 13:1-9, 19-23). 

November 2. — Transfigured — How? 
Why? (Mark 9:2-13). 

November 3. — Christ's Thought of 
Children (Matt. 18:1-14). 

November 4. — The Gloom of Worldli- 
ness (Mark 10: 17-31). 

November 5. — The Beauty of Neigh- 
borliness (Luke 10: 25-37). 

November 6. — The Cure for Drudgery 
(Luke 10:38-42). 

November 7. — ''So Is He that ... Is 
Not Rich Toward God" (Luke 12:13-21). 

November 8. — Opportunity, Responsi- 
bility, Consequences (Luke 16:19-31). 

November 9. — ^^ Watch, Therefore" 
(Matt. 25:1-13). 

November 10. — What Will Count in the 
Judgment (Matt. 25:31-46; 2 Cor. 5:10). 

November 11. — The Lord's Supper the 
Love Ordinance (Luke 22:14-23). 

November 12. — Death and the Great 
Beyond (John 14:1-7). 

137 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

November 13. — ^^Tlie Eose Garden of 
God" (Matt. 26:36-46). 

November 14. — The Crucifixion (Mark 
15:21-41). 

November 15. — The Eesurrection 
(Matt. 28:1-10). 

November 16. — An Outline of the 
Church's Duty (Matt. 28:16-20). 

November 17. — The Program of the 
Risen Christ and Its Consummation (Acts 
1:1-11). 

November 18. — Power from on High 
the Equipment of the Christian (Acts 2: 
1-13). 

November 19. — A Picture of an Apos- 
tolic Church (Acts 2:36-47). 

November 20. — Moral Effects of Com- 
munion with Christ (Acts 4:13-20). 

November 21. — Evils of Imperfect Con- 
secration (Acts 5:1-11). 

November 22. — The First Christian 
Martyr (Acts 7:54-60). 

November 23. — The Conversion of Saul 
(Acts 9:1-9). 

November 24. — A Vision of Christian 
Democracy (Acts 10:9-16, 24-34). 

November 25. — Songs in the Night 
(Acts 16:19-34). 

138 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 



November 26. — A Sermon to Philoso- 
phers on God (Acts 17: 23-31). 

November 27. — The Power by Which 
God Will Cleanse the World (Eom. 1: 
13-17). 

November 28.— The Love that Will Not 
Let Me Go (Rom. 8:26-39). 

November 29.— The Ethics of the 
Christian Life (Eom. 12). 

November 30. — The Greatest Thing in 
the World (1 Cor. 13). 

DECEMBER. 

December 1. — The Resurrection of the 
Dead (1 Cor. 15:35-58). 

December 2. — The Transfiguration of 
Panl (2 Cor. 12:1-10). 

December 3. — The Fruits of the Spirit 
(Gal. 5:16-25). 

December 4. — "That Ye May Be Able 
to Stand" (Eph. 6:10-20). 

December 5.— The Meaning of Life 
and Death (Phil. 1:21-31). 

December 6.— The Mind of a Christian 
(Phil. 4:4-13). 

December 7. — The Method of Making 
the Christian Life and Characteristics of 
That Life (Col. 3:1-17). 

139 . 



A MANUAL FOR HOME DEVOTIONS 

December 8. — ^^ Concerning Them that 
Fall Asleep'' (1 Thess. 4: 13-18). 

December 9.—^ 'That Ye May Be 
Counted Worthy of the Kingdom of God'' 
(2 Thess. 1:3-12). 

December 10. — ''Fight the Good Fight 
of Faith" (1 Tim. 6:11-20). 

December 11. — A Life Worth Living 
(2 Tim. 4:1-8). 

December 12. — The Life of Regenera- 
tion (Tit. 3:1-11). 

December 13. — The Practice of Broth- 
erhood (Philemon). 

December 14. — The Deceitfulness of 
Sin (Heb. 3:12-19; 4:1-3). 

December 15. — The Splendors of Faith 
(Heb. 11:32-40). 

December 16. — The Greatness and Dig- 
nity of the Christian Life (Heb. 12: 
1-13). 

December 17. — Pure Religion (Jas. 1: 
19-27). 

December 18. — Eeligion and Life's 
Moods and Tenses (Jas. 5:13-20). 

December 19. — The Example of Christ 
(1 Pet. 2:18-25). 

December 20. — Make Yonr Calling and 
Election Sure (2 Pet. 1: 2-11). 

140 



THE GOLDEN THREAD 

December 21. — ^Walking in the Light 
(lJohn2:l-ll). 

December 22. — God's Love and the 
Great Hope (1 John 3 : 1-3 ; Ps. 17 : 15). 

December 23. — The Test of Error and 
Truth (lJohn4:l-6). 

December 24. — Friendship, Truth, 
Love, Constancy (2 John). 

December 25. — A Friend's Prayer (3 
John). 

December 26. — Keeping in the Love of 
God (Jude vs. 17-25). 

December 27. — The Christ of Eternity 
(Rev. 1:8-20). 

December 28. — Love the "Way into Par- 
adise (Rev. 2:1-7). 

December 29. — How to Regain Lost 
Enthusiasm in Religion (Rev. 3:14-22). 

December 30. — The Great Victory 
(Rev. 7:9-17). 

December 31. — Last Things (Rev. 22 )• 



141 



